Skimming a stone across a lake

[verdigris]

Main Question or Discussion Point

If I skim a flat stone across a lake will it go further on a calm,flat,water surface or on a surface covered with waves i.e can the pebble pick up momentum from the waves if it travels at the right speed and trajectory?

 

[haiha]

May be in the wavy water, the stone can go further. But it is not because the pebble picks up momentum from the wave. In fact it reduces the time the pebble contacts with water. The waves do not contribute any momentum to the stone in horizontal direction.

 

[neutrino]

Article related to the topic that might interest you: http://physicsweb.org/articles/world/19/2/6

 

[verdigris]

The researchers on that link have really done some work on skimming stones!

 

[AlephZero]

The researchers on that link have really done some work on skimming stones!

They were not the first. This was military high-technology in WWII. See http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-air-support/ww2-allied/dambusters.htm