Homework Help: Waving problem

1. Mar 6, 2010

cyspope

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
The speed of waving in shallow water depend only on the acceleration of gravity g, a quantity with dimensions L/T^2, and on the water depth h.

Which of the following formulas for the wave speed v could be correct?

a) v=1/2gh^2 b)v=√gh

2. Relevant equations
L = $$\frac{n\lambda_{n}}{2}$$

v$$^{2}$$ = $$\frac{T}{\frac{m}{l}}$$

v = f$$\lambda$$

3. The attempt at a solution

I think I have to use one of above equations, but I don't know where to start.

2. Mar 7, 2010

AtticusFinch

I think you are over complicating things. It's a simple dimensional analysis problem. Your a) equation comes out in units of m3/s2 while your b) equation comes out in m/s. Velocity has units of m/s, therefore equation b) is correct.

Actually deriving this equation for a water wave involves the inverse hyperbolic tangent function.

3. Mar 7, 2010

cyspope

could you explain how the equation a) comes out to be m3/s2 because I don't understand the process.

4. Mar 7, 2010

AtticusFinch

So for a) you have 0.5gh2

Water Depth is measured in SI units of meters. When you square meters it becomes meters squared or more generally length squared.

"g" or the acceleration due to gravity has units of meters per second squared. Or more generally Length per unit time squared (written L/T^2)

0.5 does not have units so you can leave it out in a dimensional analysis problem.

Now multiply the units from h and g together.

Square meters times meters gives you cubic meters just like x2 times x gives you x3.

Seconds squared stays seconds squared.

More generally it comes out length cubed over time squared.