What is Depth: Definition and 362 Discussions

A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive hydraulic shock. Most depth charges use high explosive charges and a fuze set to detonate the charge, typically at a specific depth. Depth charges can be dropped by ships, patrol aircraft, and helicopters.
Depth charges were developed during World War I, and were one of the first effective methods of attacking a submarine underwater. They were widely used in World War I and World War II. They remained part of the anti-submarine arsenals of many navies during the Cold War. Depth charges have now largely been replaced by anti-submarine homing torpedoes.

A depth charge fitted with a nuclear warhead is also known as a "nuclear depth bomb". These were designed to be dropped from a patrol plane or deployed by an anti-submarine missile from a surface ship, or another submarine, located a safe distance away. By the late 1990s all nuclear anti-submarine weapons had been withdrawn from service by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. They have been replaced by conventional weapons whose accuracy and range had improved greatly as ASW technology improved.

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  1. H_man

    In acoustics is there something analogous to skin depth in EM?

    Hi all The reflection and transmission of a pressure wave at a boundary depends on the relative impedance of the two media. I'm pretty new to acoustics but the textbook I've been looking at doesn't seem to specify that the such calculations are only valid when the medium is at least a few...
  2. T

    Why does the speed of the water wave decreases as depth decreases?

    Why does the speed of the water wave decreases when the water wave approaches the shallower region? Is it because of the frictional force between the water molecules and the seabed? I have searched the net but i didn't get any clear answer to this questions. Please explain in details of the...
  3. MarkFL

    MHB 정은's question at Yahoo Answers regarding depth of water in trough when half full

    Here is the question: I have posted a link there to this topic so the OP can see my work.
  4. V

    Any in depth explanations on why near lightspeed affect aging?

    The time dilation effect on a lightclock moving horizontically is very easy to understand. But how does the speed affect our biological processes? "Because time slows down!" you might say. But specifically, what does make say the cells move slower? If they are moving in the same direction of a...
  5. B

    Water entering in the container while at 30m depth

    Hi, It may not be the best title chosen but here is the question. If I have one container that has two compartments, one has a battery pack built from several alkaline cells and the second compartment has some pcb, wiring etc. The two compartments are separated each other with a plug, no...
  6. D

    Determine depth of a channel

    Homework Statement A rectangular channel has a width of 2 meters, and an slope of 1:80. The Manning's number for the entire channel is n = 0,014. In this situation the depth is y= 1,50m. The flow of water is normal. Further down the slope decreases to 1:150 and the width increases to b=3...
  7. B

    Calculate max depth in water a hollow steel sphere can withstand

    Any help is appreciated, I'm really just trying to figure out if it can withstand 300 meters but it would be useful to see how/if a max depth can be calculated. diameter: 20M steel density: 7850 kg/m^3 weight: 250,000 kg shell thickness: 2.54 cm density of water: 1027 kg/m^3 How much...
  8. B

    MATLAB Trying a MATLAB program for AM transmission, depth issues.

    Hi there; I am trying to make a MATLAB program to do an amplitude modulation on a biphasic pulse. The equation I am using is the following: Vout2(i)= (Vc/1000)*(1+(depth.*cos(2*pi*Fm*(i/carrier_freq)))). Where Fm is the modulating frequency, carrier_freq is the frequency of...
  9. L

    Finding Water Depth in an Inverted Cone

    Homework Statement An inverted right circular cone of vertical angle 120 is collecting water from a tap at a steady rate of 18∏ cm^3/min. Find a) the depth of water after 12min, b) rate of increase of depth at this instant Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution All...
  10. M

    The depth at which physics was discovered

    Hello, I realize that there are many levels of physics that are taught to students (introductory, intermediate/advanced, then graduate) But I was wondering, when the famous physicists like Newton and Maxwell, etc, discovered their respective phenomenon, did they know it at a graduate level...
  11. R

    Refraction (aperture, apparent depth)

    Homework Statement 1: A decrease in the aperture of a lens changes the (A)Size of the image (B)Intensity of the image (C)Portion of the image (D) All of these 2: A vessel is filled with two different liquids which do not mix. One liquid is 40cm deep and has n=1.6 and the other is 30cm deep...
  12. W

    Variation of pressure with depth

    Homework Statement the spring of the pressure gauge. has a force constant of 1250 N/m, and the piston has a diameter of .012m. As the gauge is lowered into water in a lake, what change in depth causes the piston to move by .0075 m Homework Equations P= P_{0} + \rhogh variation with...
  13. J

    Using integration to find depth

    Homework Statement Your mobile phone drops down a sinkhole. You hear it hit the bottom 8.5 seconds later. How deep is the hole? Assume there is no air resistance velocity of sound 334m/s gravity 9.8m/s Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I tried integrating the equation...
  14. N

    At what point does math begin to describe the world in depth?

    I am taking Finite mathematics we learn things such as annuities and interest rates as well as matrices. Anyways i have taking math my entire life. And i do see the physical parts with things such as 1+1=2 but not in say y=5x+6 graphed out, or with isolating variables with functions like...
  15. R

    At what depth is the phase of temperature profile reversed?

    The amplitude of daily temperature is dT=5 C. The ground is made of limestone. At what depth is the phase of temperature profile reversed (cooler at 3 pm and warmer at 3 am)? Circular frequency is equal to I think 2E-7 per second The depth at which the profile is reversed is where the...
  16. M

    Understanding Well Depth and Its Relationship to Bond Energy

    hello! what is actually the "well depth" or the "depth of the well" ? maybe it doesn't help that english is not my native language, but anyway, I can't find some reference I found the term to be used in context of describing the energy of the bonds thanks!
  17. F

    Finding the depth of a well after dropping a rock

    Homework Statement You drop a rock(from rest) into a well. You hear the rock hit the bottom 3.15 seconds after you dropped it. How deep is the well? Do not ignore the time for sound to travel back up to your ear. Velocity of sound = 343 m/s (constant), g = 9.8 m/s^2 Homework Equations...
  18. C

    Calculating Maximum Dive Depth: Tips for Cliff Divers | Get the Facts Here!

    How can one calculate the maximum depth a diver (jumping to water, like cliff diving) reaches if he stays in the same position that he used when entering the water, and does nothing to stop more quickly? Thank you Regards
  19. D

    Calculating Water Depth Using Sound Waves

    Homework Statement a submarines sends sound waves and receives it after 4 seconds then goes under water 700 m and sends waves and receives it after 3 seconds he wants the depth of water Homework Equations V=d/t The Attempt at a Solution V=d/t V=x/2 then V=X-700/1.5 so x/2 =...
  20. X

    Maximum depth at which you can breathe using a simple air pipe

    Came across this question in the Flying Circus of Physics, My initial assumption was that this would be where the water pressure becomes greater than the maximum pressure difference that can be created between the lungs and atmospheric pressure. a search revealed the normal pressure...
  21. B

    Penetration depth below surface - Free Fall

    So here is the scenario: an adult male 80kg, 6ft tall, slim build free falls into the open ocean feet first, hands locked into the groin. Speed at entry can be 200km/hr. We can assume the water is perfectly stile in reference to the surface tension. and for the body we can estimate some factors...
  22. I

    Water Temperature Difference with Depth

    I'm trying to find out if the water temperature in a hot water tank (household solar system) varies substantially from the top temp to the bottom. In essence in a stable system, what is the difference in temperature per centimeter drop in height of water in the tank? I assume that the tank size...
  23. A

    Bullet hits a block, penetration depth and velocity

    Homework Statement A bullet with mass and speed v hits a wooden block of mass M that is situated at rest on a frictionless surface. It penetrates the block and gets trapped inside it as a result of a constant retardation force F_{ret} that opposes relative motion between the two objects...
  24. R

    Beam depth or column size factor in loading

    I just want to know the relationship between beam depth and column size. I know there is a relationship. But in uniform loading, do they increase beam depth or column size? or rather.. would increasing beam depth and keeping column constant be able to handle more load? or should the beam depth...
  25. M

    Air pressure at water depth and buoyancy

    I'm doing a project that requires a platform that is able to float up and down a water depth of 0-100m. It'll be pulled down by a fishing line. I'm currently using air as buoyant. This air will be trapped in a container. However there is air pressure at a certain water depth. The air will...
  26. B

    What is the derivation for the equation for liquid pressure at depth?

    The pressure of a liquid of constant density at depth 'h' is given by the equation: P = hρg I am trying to understand the derivation of this equation. I understand it perfectly for liquid columns with rectangular liquid columns but I can't see why it works if the shape of the fluid...
  27. Z

    Catapult/Projectile Launcher Project - In Depth, Fairly Complicated - I'm stuck.

    Homework Statement I am required to make a projectile launcher of some form that will fire a golf ball a certain distance, a certain height through a window, and to have it land accurately on a target. -The device can only be 1x1x1 meter - no weight restrictions. -There will be two launches...
  28. 0

    Physics final prep, question about force under water at depth h

    Homework Statement The question states: The fresh water behind a reservoir dam has depth D=15 meters. A horizontal pipe 4.0cm in diameter passes through the dam at depth d=6.0m. A plug secures the pipe opening. (a) Find the magnitude of the frictional force between plug and pipe wall...
  29. H

    Depth of pit of CD - why 1/4 of wavelength?

    Homework Statement Why does the depth of the pit have to be 1/4 of the wavelength? Homework Equations I understand that this causes two beams to interfere destructively because the path difference resulted is 1/2 of a wavelength - however, I cannot prove this geometrically - can somebody...
  30. P

    Depth of a finite square well

    Homework Statement A finite square well 2.0fm wide contains one electron. How deep must the well be if there are only two allowed (bound) energy levels for the electron? Homework Equations (1) E = [ a^2 * hbar^2 ] / 2m (2) u = sqrt [2m(E+Vo)] / hbar The Attempt at a Solution Use...
  31. M

    Fluid Mechanics, Depth, Pressure

    I'm having a little problem with my book as I was reading about fluid mechanics. The book seems to have skipped a bit of some crucial part (at least for me) during the derivation for fluid pressure at certain depths (where the weight of the fluid is not neglected). Here, I'll try to reconstruct...
  32. P

    At which depth could the existance of gold being plausible?

    does this even make sense? I mean is gold located/formed in a specific depth range? or it virtually could be found anywhere? the next question how to setup a relatively small budget mine with underground levels/rooms? :D
  33. S

    What Is the Hydrostatic Force on One End of a Tank Filled with Gasoline?

    1. Homework Statement A large tank is designed with ends in the shape of the region between the curves y =(1/2)x^2 and y = 12, measured in feet. Find the hydrostatic force on one end of the tank if it is filled to a depth of 8 ft with gasoline. (Assume the gasoline's density is 42.0 lb/ft^3)...
  34. E

    Find Apparent depth due to a non-homogenous liquid

    THE ACTUAL PROBLEM: A vessel of depth H is filled with a non-homogenous liquid whose refractive index varies with y as u=(2 -(y/H)), where y is measured from bottom of the vessel. Find the apparent depth as seen by an observer from above? (Paraxial approximation is allowed) RELEVANT...
  35. H

    Refractive index and depth of object in water.

    Question: A Fsherman sees a Fish in a river at an apparent depth below the surface of the water of 0.75 m. Given that the refractive index of water is 1.33, is the true depth of the Fish below the water's surface: A 0.75 m? B Less than 0.75 m? C 1 m? D More than 1 m? My proposal...
  36. T

    Depth of Water and Energy Required to Boil

    I have been out of college for more than 20 years and my basic physics knowledge has become quite rusty. Someone made a statement today related to making maple syrup. They stated the energy required to boil a pan of sap 2' wide x 3' long x 6" deep was the same as the energy required to boil 1"...
  37. A

    Wave Runup - Average Reservoir Depth

    Hello! In order to calculate wave run-up for a reservoir, I need to determine the average reservoir depth along fetch line (D).... Does anyone know how can I calculate this depth? In some book I have read that D is the average reservoir level along the direction of wind blow, and it is...
  38. A

    Depth of a finite square potential problem

    Homework Statement Consider a finite square-well potential well of width 3.00x10-15 m that contains a particle of mass 1.88 GeV/c2. How deep does the well need to be to contain three energy levels? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I think I have to use the formula for penetration...
  39. L

    Finding the depth of a concave surface?

    I do not expect there to be one answer to this question... it is something which can probably be done several ways. However, I am trying to build a tool for my workshop and would love some insight into the necessary math to make it work. I've pasted a very rough sketch of some of the basic...
  40. O

    Measurement of depth using laser

    I have to measure the depth of the cavity in an object which is in the micrometer(10^-6 m) order. I'm given a laser, mirrors, neutral density filters, photodiode, and the object which is to be measured. Can anyone suggest scientific articles that are related to this problem provided with the...
  41. A

    Pressure with Depth; understanding Apparatus

    This isn't a textbook problem, I just need some help understanding this apparatus. I attached a crude sketch... The canister on the right is open to the air, the column on the left is closed, but the top is filled with air and the bottom is filled with water. the canister has water in it as...
  42. T

    Is There a Method to Accurately Calculate Depth of Field in Video Projection?

    Dear all, I have a question concerning Depth of Field –*I'm trying to find a depth of field calculation method that applies for video projection. Background info is that I often have projection on non-planar surfaces and like to find a method that allows to calculate (without trying out) if...
  43. J

    Looking for an in depth book on special relativity

    I have very little background in special relativity (near to nothing, just what I've found on wikipedia). I've been looking for a book on special relativity that's for beginners but is also very in-depth covering every aspect of special relativity. I liked the look of "Spacetime Physics...
  44. P

    Surface generation from constant depth planar contours

    Hi all, I am trying to develop an application that converts a parallel set of input contours(polygons) with constant Z values to a tessellated surface mesh .The contours may also consist of holes All available tessellation techniques like glu,delaunay talk about 2d triangulations only...
  45. C

    Find pressure at depth of freshwater

    Homework Statement You are scuba diving to reach a ship sunk at a depth of 100m. What is the pressure in atm at this depth? Density of fresh water is 1000kg/m^3 and air pressure at lake surface=1atm=1.013x10^5 N/m^2 Homework Equations P2=P1+pgd p=density The Attempt at a Solution...
  46. E

    Static hydraulics, calculate water depth

    Homework Statement Refer to Figure 3. A steel box (250 mm x 250 mm x 250 mm) is placed at the bottom of a tank. If the pressure on the top surface is 10000 Pa, what is the water depth in the tank? Answer a. 1019 mm b. 251.02 mm c. 1269 mm water density: 1000 kg/m3 gravity...
  47. J

    Variation of Pressure with Depth

    Homework Statement By what factor is the total pressure greater at a depth of 850 m of sea water than at the surface where the pressure is one atmosphere? (water density = 1000 kg/m3, one atmosphere pressure = 1.01 x 105 Pascals (N/m2), g = 9.8 m/s2 ) Homework Equations P=P(initial)+ρgh...
  48. J

    Calculating Real Depth from Apparent Depth and Observation Angle

    Robert is on a ship looking at a school of fish below the lake surface. He estimates the apparent depth of the school to be two meters, and that his observation angle is forty five degrees. Calculate the real depth of the school. Here is what I think we know: θr=45°, θi=?, ni=1.00, nr=1.33...
  49. B

    Pressure of Liquid in Slanted Container at Depth

    what would the pressure of liquid at a depth be in a container which is slanted?
  50. M

    Finding the pressure of water when given an area and depth only

    Homework Statement You are a secret agent deep in the jungle, escaping from the pursuing villains. You see a stream and reeds, so you cut off a reed, jump into the stream and lie about half a metre under water breathing through the reed. Assuming that the area of your chest is approx...
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