Change in water height of a wave pool

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving the change in water height in a wave pool, modeled by a sinusoidal function. The participants are tasked with calculating the change in water height at a specific distance and time, as well as determining the time until the next maximum height is reached.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of the given equation for water height and express confusion regarding their calculations. There is an emphasis on the importance of using the correct calculator settings. Questions arise about whether the same equation should be used for subsequent calculations.

Discussion Status

The conversation indicates that some participants have made progress in understanding the initial calculations, while others are still uncertain about the next steps. Guidance has been offered regarding the use of the equation for further calculations, and there is a welcoming tone towards new participants.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention potential issues with calculator settings and the possibility of incorrect answers from reference materials. There is an underlying assumption that the equation provided is valid for the calculations being performed.

mexqwerty
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
A 2.00 m deep swimming pool is equipped with a wave generator that sends sinusoidal waves across the pool. The equation which gives the water depth, h(x,t), some distance x from the wave generator at any time t is:
h(x,t) = 2.00 m + H cos[ 2π [ t/(4.900 s) − x/(0.4000 m) ] − 5π/4 ]
where H = 75.0 cm.

a. What is the change in water height, with respect to the mean water level, a distance 34.81 m from the wave generator at time t = 10.50 s.

b. How much time must elapse from the instant in part (a) until the water 34.81 m from the wave generator reaches its next maximum?


For a, have been trying to do the question and I'm using deltah = H cos[ 2π [ t/(4.900 s) − x/(0.4000 m) ] − 5π/4 ] but obviously its wrong because I'm getting the wrong answer.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
mexqwerty said:
A 2.00 m deep swimming pool is equipped with a wave generator that sends sinusoidal waves across the pool. The equation which gives the water depth, h(x,t), some distance x from the wave generator at any time t is:
h(x,t) = 2.00 m + H cos[ 2π [ t/(4.900 s) − x/(0.4000 m) ] − 5π/4 ]
where H = 75.0 cm.

a. What is the change in water height, with respect to the mean water level, a distance 34.81 m from the wave generator at time t = 10.50 s.

b. How much time must elapse from the instant in part (a) until the water 34.81 m from the wave generator reaches its next maximum?


For a, have been trying to do the question and I'm using deltah = H cos[ 2π [ t/(4.900 s) − x/(0.4000 m) ] − 5π/4 ] but obviously its wrong because I'm getting the wrong answer.

You should show details of your actual calculation attempt so that we can see what's going wrong (and it's possible that the "book" answer is incorrect -- it happens sometimes).
 
Oh, never mind. I was doing the right thing but I didn't know you had to set your calculator to radians. Thanks, anyway.
Hmm, but I still don't know how to do the next bit. Do I have to use the equation again? It doesn't look like I can...
 
Last edited:
mexqwerty said:
Oh, never mind. I was doing the right thing but I didn't know you had to set your calculator to radians. Thanks, anyway.

Ah. That'll do it, all right.

Cheers.
 
mexqwerty said:
Hmm, but I still don't know how to do the next bit. Do I have to use the equation again? It doesn't look like I can...
Actually yes, you do use that same equation. What is the value of Δh at a maximum?

p.s. Welcome to Physics Forums.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 63 ·
3
Replies
63
Views
5K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K