Dissipation of Ripples in water

[dathill]

I am doing an experiment to study how different factors affect the time taken for ripples to dissipate in water.

I have been using the mass of metal ball bearings as a variable and changing the height from which they are dropped as well to create the ripples.

To measure the time taken for the ripples to completely dissipate I have been using a camera that takes many photos very quickly at 20fps and then counting the number of frames to ascertain a time period.

I have had some quite strange results but I was wondering if anyone knows of any pre-existing correlations between impacts of objects in water and the creation of ripples in this context.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Jhero]

for sharing your experiment with us! It sounds like a very interesting study. There are indeed some pre-existing correlations between impacts of objects in water and the creation of ripples.

One factor that can affect the time taken for ripples to dissipate is the surface tension of the water. This is the force that holds the surface of the water together and can be affected by various factors such as temperature and the presence of contaminants. A higher surface tension can result in slower dissipation of ripples.

Another factor to consider is the viscosity of the water. This is the resistance of the water to flow and can also be affected by temperature and the presence of contaminants. A higher viscosity can result in slower dissipation of ripples.

Additionally, the shape and size of the metal ball bearings can also impact the creation and dissipation of ripples. A larger and heavier ball bearing may create bigger and longer-lasting ripples compared to a smaller and lighter one.

It is also important to consider the depth of the water and the material of the container in which the experiment is conducted. A deeper and more rigid container may result in slower dissipation of ripples compared to a shallower and more flexible one.

I would suggest keeping these factors in mind while analyzing your results and considering any possible correlations. It may also be helpful to conduct further experiments with controlled variables to better understand the impact of each factor on the dissipation of ripples.

I hope this helps and good luck with your experiment!