Qualitative description of unbounded ocean system

  • Thread starter Thread starter akoe
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ocean System
akoe
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement

[/B]
a) Suppose that you have the unbounded ocean show in the picture, where h = 2000 m. At t = 0, the system is allowed to relax. Make a qualitative description of its evolution and final state if i) L = 100 m, and ii) L = 10,000 m.
ocean_basin.jpg

b) At what speed should an observer move in order to observe the same wavelength of a wave packet traveling over a basin of constant depth?

Homework Equations


None, because this is a qualitative question? I guess c_g = \frac{\partial \omega}{\partial k} may be useful for part b.

The Attempt at a Solution


For part a.i, because L is small, is seems as though what will happen is the higher sides of that rectangular space in the ocean will come crashing towards each other, then hit, then they'll sort of rebound back out , and eventually the ocean will settle back into a still surface. For part a.ii., because L is bigger, the water from each higher side will take longer to reach each other, but I'm not sure how else that would change the situation, and I have no idea what h has to do with this whole situation at all, really.

For part b), I am confused on the wording of this part. When it says in order to observe the same wavelength of a wave packet, what is the "same" referring to? The observer observes the same wavelength as...?

I'm sorry for how messy my answers here are. I guess I really do have a hard time with qualitative questions like this. I would really appreciate any help!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
"Wavelength" is the length of the displaced surface.
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'
This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'
The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
Back
Top