Amplitude of a circular ripple at distance r from source

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Homework Help Overview

This discussion revolves around the amplitude of a circular ripple generated by a point source in a fluid medium, specifically water. Participants are exploring the assumptions made regarding energy absorption and propagation of waves in two-dimensional and three-dimensional contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants question the assumption that no energy is absorbed by the water and discuss the implications of this assumption on the problem's solvability. There are attempts to clarify how energy is distributed over larger areas as the wave propagates.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with multiple participants expressing confusion about the assumptions made in the problem. Some have offered insights into the physics of wave propagation and energy distribution, but there is no explicit consensus on the assumptions or their implications.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem's requirements may be unclear regarding energy absorption, and there is mention of the low viscosity of water compared to more viscous substances, which affects wave propagation.

member 731016
Homework Statement
Please see below
Relevant Equations
Please see below
For this problem,
1675813522481.png

The solution is,
1675813536290.png

Does anybody please know another way to solve this problem?

EDIT: Why do they assume that no energy is absorbed by the water?

Many thanks!
 
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What is wrong with this one?
 
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nasu said:
What is wrong with this one?
Thank you for your reply @nasu! I don't understand why they can assume that no energy is absorbed by the water. Do you please know why?
 
But the problem tells you to use energy.
 
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nasu said:
But the problem tells you to use energy.
Thank you for your reply @nasu! I guess their statement could be interpreted as energy is not absorbed. I though the problem could be a bit clearer in that manner thought.
 
No, it means that the energy is spread over larger and larger perimeters (because is a 2D wave).
In 3D the energy of a point (or spherical) source is spread over larger and larger spherical surfaces and so the energy per unit area decereases as 1/r 2(inverse square law). As the energy is proprtional to amplitude squared, the energy per unit area (in 3D) decreases as 1/r.
For the 2D case you can make a similar deduction. Here the energy is spread over a circumference so the energy over unit length of circumference decreases as 1/r.
 
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Callumnc1 said:
I don't understand why they can assume that no energy is absorbed by the water. Do you please know why?
Otherwise the problem is not solveable unless we know a whole lot about water.
 
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nasu said:
No, it means that the energy is spread over larger and larger perimeters (because is a 2D wave).
In 3D the energy of a point (or spherical) source is spread over larger and larger spherical surfaces and so the energy per unit area decereases as 1/r 2(inverse square law). As the energy is proprtional to amplitude squared, the energy per unit area (in 3D) decreases as 1/r.
For the 2D case you can make a similar deduction. Here the energy is spread over a circumference so the energy over unit length of circumference decreases as 1/r.
Thank you for your reply @nasu! Sorry for the late reply, I completely forgot about this thread!

Many thanks!
 
malawi_glenn said:
Otherwise the problem is not solveable unless we know a whole lot about water.
Thank you for your reply @malawi_glenn ! Sorry for the late reply, I completely forgot about this thread!

Many thanks!
 
  • #10
Callumnc1 said:
Why do they assume that no energy is absorbed by the water?
Some is, of course, due to viscosity, but the viscosity of water is very low, allowing waves to propagate a long way. Compare with trying to make ripples across the top of a pot of treacle.
 
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  • #11
haruspex said:
Some is, of course, due to viscosity, but the viscosity of water is very low, allowing waves to propagate a long way. Compare with trying to make ripples across the top of a pot of treacle.
Thank you for your reply @haruspex ! Sorry about the late reply, I forgot about this thread again.

I have never tried to seen treacle, but searching it up, it looks it has quite a high viscosity. I guess that means that the kinetic energy of the particles from a wave source is quite rapidly dissipated as friction between the layers of the liquid so the ripples won't travel far.

https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-0-387-92897-5

Many thanks!
 

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