Cautions/Discussion

• The tank was made using clear plexiglass and sealed with clear aquarium glue so that the seams held water.

• Before I put the water in the tank, I checked the tank for cracks and unsealed areas.

• I didn't fill the tank with hot water as this would have melted the glue and caused the tank to leak. I used tepid water instead

• The source end was a steep slope to facilitate the landslide to move swiftly down the slope so that it impacted the water with some force. The length of the sloping source end was about 18 inches long and less steep.

• I used a heavy-duty, strong plastic bag to hold the aquarium gravel.

• If the water was too deep or moving too fast when it hit the far impact end, it may have splashed out of the model. That was not a problem but if it was, I could have lay a shot cover shield at the top. Having paper towels around was not a bad idea, nor was having a funnel to use when I poured the water back into the carrying container.

• The shallower the water, the slower and clearer the waves will show.

• The size of the model experiment was large enough to produce a wave so people could see what’s going on but yet small enough to transport.

• The length of the tank was long enough so that the waves could have been seen clearly.  

How can you help the people affected by the tsunami?

You can help the people in the tsunami by one one or more of the following:

1. Sponsor a child through anyone of these organizations: World Vision, Unicef, Red Cross etc.;

2. Donate non-perishable food items, toys, clothes, or money to food drives hosted by any one of the organizations listed above;

3. Travel to the regions hit by the tsunami and learn more of them. Maybe even while you're there you can help out the organizations visiting or even lend a kind word to these people. When you come back, you can convince people to donate generously to the people affected by the tsunami.

These suggestions apply not only to the people suffering as a result of the tsunami but to all people suffering in other parts of the world. This I believe is truly our purpose in life.