Tall Waves and Close Waves is a free printable Grade 4 science worksheet on modelling waves in terms of amplitude and wavelength, aligned to Common Core standard 4-PS4-1. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1.Two waves have the same wavelength but different amplitudes. What differs?
A.How tall they are, and how much they move a float
B.How far apart they are
C.Nothing at all
2.Why use a float rather than watching the water?
A.The float shows the movement at one place clearly
B.Water cannot be watched
C.Floats are colourful
3.A bigger paddle dip makes taller waves. What does that change?
A.The amplitude, which is the height of the wave
B.The colour
C.The wavelength
4.What has to be kept the same when changing the paddle dip?
A.The paddle speed must also change
B.The same tank, water and float
C.Nothing
5.Which part of a wave is its amplitude?
A.Its speed
B.The gap between crests
C.Its height from the middle to the crest
6.A float bobs up and down as waves pass. Does it travel along the tank?
A.It sinks
B.No, it bobs up and down in one place
C.Yes, it travels with the wave
7.Taller waves make the float bob more. What does that show?
A.Waves can make objects move, and bigger waves move them more
B.Floats are heavy
C.Waves are solid
8.Faster paddling makes waves closer together. What does that change?
A.The wavelength, which is the distance between waves
B.The depth
C.The amplitude
LessonPrint · 4-PS4-1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Tall Waves and Close Waves
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.How tall they are, and how much they move a float
2.The float shows the movement at one place clearly
3.The amplitude, which is the height of the wave
4.The same tank, water and float
5.Its height from the middle to the crest
6.No, it bobs up and down in one place
7.Waves can make objects move, and bigger waves move them more
8.The wavelength, which is the distance between waves
Questions about Tall Waves and Close Waves
What does the Tall Waves and Close Waves worksheet cover?
It practises modelling waves in terms of amplitude and wavelength — 8 questions for Grade 4, all on Common Core 4-PS4-1: Model waves using amplitude and wavelength, and show they can move things. The instruction to pupils is “Circle the best answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Tall Waves and Close Waves practise?
4-PS4-1 — 4-PS4-1, in the Physical Science domain for Grade 4. The published standard reads: “Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause objects to move.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Tall Waves and Close Waves is written for Grade 4, typically ages 9-10. It is one of the sheets on 4-PS4-1, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Tall Waves and Close Waves come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Tall Waves and Close Waves can I print?
25 — one per pupil, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Tall Waves and Close Waves free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Tall Waves and Close Waves, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
Is there a lesson plan to teach 4-PS4-1?
Yes — “Tall Waves and Close Waves” is a 55-minute Grade 4 plan for 4-PS4-1, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Tall Waves and Close Waves is the practice that follows it.
More practice for 4-PS4-1
Model waves using amplitude and wavelength, and show they can move things.
Teaching this next? Tall Waves and Close Waves is the 55-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.