Tsunami Model

Ever wonder what a tsunami is? Turns out tsunami follow the same physics as shallow water waves on an unimaginable scale (where the ocean, miles deep, is shallow compared to the length of the wave). Here 3 gutter segments are duct taped together to create a shallow water wave tank:

The 3 sections of gutter have different functions: the first section is where the wave is created (by sloping the gutter section full of water), the wave then propagates through the middle gutter section and runs up towards the third section which gently slopes upwards.

Disclaimers: This model does not model the deep ocean characteristics of tsunami. Wave propagation speeds are slow due to the depth of inches rather than miles.

So that one gutter can be emptied into another, there must be a flexible water proof hinge between the middle gutter section and the wave generation gutter. The duct tape is applied smoothly to the gutter edge so no creases form. Creases in the duct tape might cause leaks in the wave tank. Two lengths of duct tape are applied to each gutter edge. A 3rd length of duct tape is applied to join the two gutters. Another piece of duct tape is applied face down to prevent the duct tape from sticking to itself and to improve the seal with the gutters.

The Middel and Sloping gutter sections are joined with duct tape:


This joint does not need to hinge and only a single section of duct tape needs to be applied to each side of the gutters.

Here the gutter is filled with water. The three gutter sections should be leveled (bricks are used here) so the middle and wave generation sections are filled with water of equal depth:

To operate the model, the wave generation end is sloped, emptying the water into the middle section. The shallow water wave then propagates down the middle gutter section and washes up on the next sloping section of gutter.