Part A If the wavelength of a set of waves is 20 feet long, how deep is the wave

Question

Part A If the wavelength of a set of waves is 20 feet long, how deep is the wave base? 30 feet below the surface 20 feet bellow the surface 10 feet bellow the surface 40 feet bellow the surface Part B Now shallow must the ocean floor be for waves to start to break for a wave set with a wavelength of 20 feet? Waves will break when the ocean floor is 10 feet below the surface Waves will break when the ocean floor is 20 feet below the surface Waves will break when the ocean floor is 30 feet below the surface waves will break when the ocean now is 40 feet below the surface

Explanation / Answer

The wave base at depth = 1/2 length

Wave base = 20 feet / 2 = 10 feet

Part B

In general a wave breaks when the ratio wave height/wavelength exceeds 1/7 and also wave break when it reaches a water depth of 1.3 times the wave height.

Height of the wave = 20 feet / 7 = 3 feet

water depth = 1.3 * 3 feet = 3.9 feet.

So wave will break when the ocean floor is 10 feet below the surface.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse P
• Subjects

---