I understand that tsunami waves travel at the speed of a jet. Why do they travel so fast? Other waves in the sea doesn't travel that fast. What are the factors that determine the wave velocity?
2006-07-11 03:50:09 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Some answered that "higher energy" translates to "higher velocity". However, I don't think this is true. "Higher energy" causes "higher wave amplitude". If you think about sound wave in air, both low energy sound and high energy sound travel at the same speed. Air density determins the speed of sound travel, not the energy (or volume) of the sound.
2006-07-11 04:37:19 · update #1
The speed of a wave in water (or any other liquid) is determined entirely by its wavelength, according to this equation:
V = sqrt( L*g / 2*pi)
... where V is the velocity of the wave, g is gravitaitonal acceleration (9.8 meters per second per second on earth) and L is the wavelength.
In an earthquake, the ocean floor can rupture along a very, very long line. This can cause waves of huge length, which translates into very high speed.
2006-07-11 05:51:00 · answer #1 · answered by Keith P 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The wave traveling over the ocean surface and underneath are 2 different process. Over the surface the boundary is atmosphere. SO it is the propagation of the boundary adjustment. Underneath the pressure pulse is communicated over an incompressible medium. In an ideal incompressible medium the disturbances is felt at the other end instantaneously. One example is hydraulic pumps. When the liquid is in an enclosed cylinder the pressure immediately felt at the end point. The ocean is an open vessel. So when an earth quake happens the pressure will immediately appear on the surface and that wave travels at the wave speed. But the pressure pulse travels in all directions via water. Therefore there will 2 paths for the pressure to arrive at. Via the water via a direct line between the epicenter and the shore line. The second will be the from the upper ocean surface. The impulse traveled directly via water will arrive sooner than the normal wave arrival. Honestly this can be explained with some diagrams If you have some doubts let me know I will draw some diagrams to explain further
Also the energy released determines how far the effect is felt not the speed. This propagation dies down as the distance because the pressure pulse get diffused as the volume increase.
2006-07-11 04:59:51 · answer #2 · answered by Dr M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's because tsunami waves are caused by earthquakes. Earthquakes release a lot of energy and all that energy is carrying the water. It all depends on the wave energy and it's distribution. The higher the energy, the higher the velocity. The smaller the distribution (like in a river or something), the higher the velocity.
Asteroid impacts are much higher than earthquakes so when they hit the ocean. Waves 1 km high, supersonic speeds up to 1500 km/h.
2006-07-11 04:04:58 · answer #3 · answered by Science_Guy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earthquakes when it releases the energy at bottom of sea due to its magnitude mostly when it is above 7 on Richter scale are transformed in to Waves that causes Tsunami. Since it happens at the bottom the vertical force released by the quake are converted into horizontal force by the pressure head of the sea water height. So the forces are released horizontally rather than vertical.That is why builders are more worried about lateral shake rather than vertical force. The vertical force in land is absorbed by the weight of the building.The energy released can be calculated by the formula Kinetic energy released is equal to 0.5 mv square when the mass is same the velocity Square increases according the force of earth quake . The speed of Tsunami waves vary from 500 to 1500 km per hour but much less than the speed of earthquake waves therefore if we detect the wave in time we have more scope to save the people. Sender Ganapathy India researcher on early warning system for earthquakes.
2006-07-12 12:11:12 · answer #4 · answered by A.Ganapathy India 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tsunami's waves are caused by a quick movement of lots of mass, either in an earthquake or a landslide. They travel fast beacuse the origional movement (displacement of water) was fast.
Regular waves are mostly caused by wind and tidal forces. The distance they travel is much less and the speed is less, because the forces involved are much less (at least in impulse).
2006-07-11 04:48:39 · answer #5 · answered by QFL 24-7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How Do Tsunamis Travel
2016-10-31 23:46:31 · answer #6 · answered by chowning 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fill up you bathtub or sink. let the water become smooth. then drop a rock in it and notice the waves that are produced circularly around the site where the rock entered. this is actually a small scale way to understand how tsunamis are produced, except they come from underneath the ocean surface. see how quickly the waves reach the inside surface of the sink. now multiply that times a billion in length and you can understand why tsunamis travel so quickly.. check out this website for detailed information. interesting question, thanks!
www.tsunamiwave.info
2006-07-11 03:59:27 · answer #7 · answered by RnforHire 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because tsunamis are just a big shock in the water that can travel up to 600 mph they only turn into tsunamis as they approach land.
2006-07-11 05:55:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe such waves are triggered by underground shifting of tactonic plates. Accordingly, they are propelled by the enormous force created by the shift.
2006-07-11 04:00:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋