How Can I Calculate the Seiche Period for a Shallow Water Channel?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the seiche period for a shallow water channel, specifically a lake that is approximately 9 km wide and 300 m deep. The problem involves understanding the relationship between wave speed and water depth in shallow water conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the use of the water height in the wave speed formula and question the appropriateness of this approach. There are attempts to calculate the seiche period and considerations of using the channel's width in the calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided calculations and expressed uncertainty about their results. One participant has suggested a formula for calculating wave speed, indicating a potential direction for further exploration.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the implications of using specific parameters, such as height and width, in their calculations. There is an acknowledgment of uncertainty regarding the correctness of their answers and the methods employed.

aks_sky
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The speed of water waves in shallow water is given approximately by:

c^2 = gh

A seiche is a standing wave in a shallow water basin with antinodes at ends and a node in the center.

A lake is approximately a channel 9 km wide and 300 m deep. Calculate the seiche period for such a channel.


** What i think i can do with this problem is that i can use the height h=300m in the equation but i don't think that will give me the right answer. I am thinking that i should find the area of the channel but i don't know how to use that in the formula to find the speed.

Any ideas?

thank you
 
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Why do you think using the height 300m will give you the wrong answer?
 
When i did the calculations i got the answer as 54.2 s, which i think is not right for the period of wave. but i could be wrong, also i was thinking about using the width of the channel to see if i get a different answer. but i don't think that works out either.
 
Oh yup i figured it out. I can use the formula of c = 2L / sqrt(g h)

that give me the speed of a wave through a channel... thank you for your help!
 

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