Interactive 3D Ocean Wave Simulation

This is a real-time 3D wave simulator which demonstrates the connection between wind speed and ocean particle motion depth. Most waves form when winds blowing across the water's surface transmit their energy to the water.

As a wave passes by, the water particles move in a circular motion. The buoy on the surface swings down into the trough of one wave, then back up to the crest of the next wave. Below the surface, the water particles move in smaller circles.

Adjust the wind speed to see how wave properties like wavelength, wave height, wave speed, and wave frequency are affected.

The name for the highest part of a wave is the crest. The horizontal distance between crests is the wavelength. The name for the lowest part of a wave is the trough. The vertical distance from the crest to the trough is the wave height.

Waves are also measured by their frequency, the number of waves that pass a point, such as one of the buoys in the 3D simulation, within a certain amount of time. Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Water Motion Learning Simulation Video