- #1
Barclay
- 208
- 1
Homework Statement
Q Provide an explanation for the following statements.
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STATEMENT 1 The captain on an ocean ship is proceeding slowly into waves coming towards the ship. He notices that the waves change in two ways about 200 m ahead of where the ship is located. The waves get further apart and change direction quite noticeably.
My answer
The water 200m ahead is deeper and this explains why the wavelengths have increased (waves get further apart). The change of direction of the water waves is because the shallower ocean water (where the ship is presently located) has met the deeper water at an oblique angle and changed direction.
Book answer
The water gets shallower 200 m ahead = 1 mark
STATEMENT 2 An observer is standing on the bank of the river. The wind is blowing from left to right and waves moving from left to right. However, he sees a small piece of wood that is moving from right to left as it floats in the middle of the river.
My answer
In the middle of the river there may be a sudden change in depth of the water so that the waves change direction so the wood is now traveling right to left. Also there may be superposition of various waves sizes in the windy weather and when the depth changes so the wood is now traveling right to left.
Book answer
The current is going right to left = 1 mark
Homework Equations
Waves section in book
The Attempt at a Solution
I've put answers immediately after the question in this thread because it flows easier / is easier to read.
I think my answers are good though not certain about STATEMENT 2.
I think the book answers are rubbish and the book answer to STATEMENT 1 is wrong.
Please tell me what you think.Seasons greetings, happy New Year to you all.