Move the pointer with left and right arrows. Press space (or down arrow) to push the water down where the arrow is pointing. Press the Calm button to settle the water immediately. Click the Advanced box to get access to advanced settings, described below. Slide the "horz springiness" control to change the strength of the model's horizontal springs. Slide the "vert springiness" control to change the strength of the model's vertical springs. Click the End Springs checkbox to turn on "bookend" springs, attaching the ends to "sea level", as in my Balls and Springs simulation.
Try to make standing waves with various numbers of peaks, by timing your pushes just right. I find it best to be in the middle. It's possible to make standing waves with 1, 2 and 3 peaks (at least). I call these a "one", a "two" and a "three". I've also made a 2 1/2. My kids love doing this in our circular pool. Next time you're in a circular pool, try doing this yourself. Stand in the middle of the pool, holding a "paddle" of some type (e.g. a boogie board). Press down in the middle of the pool with the right rhythm. You should feel the waves building. You can make ones (the easiest), twos, and even threes. Note that you may lose alot of water out over the sides of the pool! If you want to understand the underlying physics of this game, study my Balls and Springs game, which explains the model in much more detail. The main differences between the games: 1. The "balls" are now blue columns. 2. There is no horizontal movement possible: all movement is constrained to be vertical. 3. The bookend columns are not attached on their outer sides; there are no "anchor blocks" (you can turn these on with the advanced setting called End Springs). 4. Each column has an extra spring attaching it to "sea level". These are called the vertical springs. 5. There is friction, so the pool eventually settles. There are 2 major parameters which control the model: the strength of the horizontal springs, and the strength of the vertical springs. Use Advanced settings to see these. If you make the horizontal springs stronger, then energy is transmitted more quickly in the horizontal direction - i.e. the waves move faster. If you make the vertical springs weaker, it's as if the water is lighter - the waves bounce up-and-down more slowly. If you set the vertical spring strength to zero, the water just sort of floats away!
