Bow wake
Definition
A bow wake is a wave pattern created by an object moving through a medium faster than the waves can propagate in that medium. It is commonly observed in water with boats but also occurs in air with supersonic aircraft.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- A bow wake forms when an object moves faster than the speed of waves in the medium it travels through, creating a V-shaped wave pattern.
- In fluids, the angle of the V-shaped bow wake depends on the speed of the object relative to the speed of wave propagation in that fluid.
- For supersonic aircraft, a similar phenomenon occurs called a shock wave, which generates a sonic boom.
- The Mach number represents the ratio of an object's speed to the speed of sound in that medium and determines if it will produce a bow wake or shock wave.
- Bow wakes are examples of nonlinear phenomena because they involve complex interactions between the moving object and the medium.
Review Questions
- What conditions must be met for a bow wake to form?
- How does the angle of a bow wake change with increasing speed?
- What is the relationship between Mach number and the formation of shock waves?
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Related terms
Mach Number: The ratio of an object's speed to the speed of sound in its surrounding medium.
Shock Wave: A type of propagating disturbance generated when an object moves faster than the speed of sound, causing abrupt changes in pressure and density.
Sonic Boom: The loud sound associated with shock waves created by an object traveling through air faster than the speed of sound.
