How Does Water Depth Affect Wave Speed and Particle Motion?

AI Thread Summary
Water waves increase in speed in depths greater than half their wavelength due to the nature of particle motion. In deeper water, particles move in circular orbits, allowing waves to travel faster. Conversely, in shallower water, the orbits flatten into ellipses, which slows down wave speed. This change in particle motion is a key factor influencing the speed of waves. Understanding these dynamics is essential for grasping wave behavior in varying water depths.
Yuqing
Messages
216
Reaction score
0
I have trouble understanding why water waves tend to speed up for waters deeper than 1/2 wavelength and slow down for waters shallower. I have read it has something to do with how the particle orbit changes to elliptical in shallow waters.

Why does the particle orbit become a flat ellipse in shallow water and is that the factor influencing the slower wave speed? If not not, what is?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Does anyone have an answer for this?
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Charged particles and electromagnetic waves in transparent media
Replies
22
Views
1K
How Does Water Depth Influence Wave Speed in Shallow Water?
Replies
3
Views
2K
How does water affect resonance in organ pipes?
Replies
10
Views
2K
How Do Phase Speed and Maximum Particle Speed Compare in a Transverse Wave?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Wave Speed Homework: Find Frequency, Wavelength & Depth
Replies
1
Views
4K
Tsunami word problem (waves practice)
Replies
1
Views
4K
Refraction of Ocean waves: Wide Headland vs Narrow
Replies
22
Views
8K
Tidal friction and global warming
Replies
10
Views
3K
Measuring the Speed of Sound in Water, Using Faraday's Law
Replies
14
Views
3K
How does increasing the tension of a string affect various properties?
Replies
1
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top