Refraction of Gravity Water Waves.
Abstract
The kinematic definitions of group velocity and phase velocity are obtained for wave-packets. It is found that group velocity and phase velocity are generally not collinear. The exception arises when the component sine waves have the same direction. The refraction of wave-packets is considered and it is found that the wavelets within the packet have a direction determined by Snell's law with phase velocity and the wave-packets refract according to Snell's law with group velocity. These theoretical results are found consistent with observations of gravity water waves. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0747982
Entities
People
- J. Ernest Breeding Jr.
Organizations
- Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory