Why does the amplitude of ripples gets smaller eventually decreasing to zero??

Question

When a stone is dropped into water, the resulting ripples spread farther and farther out, getting smaller and smaller in amplitude until they disappear. Why does that happen?

Answer 1

The very simple logic is when the circumference of the circle is smaller and the force generated is divided to a small circumferenceal area. When it goes away from the source the circumference increases. Therefore the force is divided to a large area thus it reduces gradually to zero. This is what is happening during Tsunami. The wave height started at 250 c.m. at Sumatra and ended at Somalia at 12 c. m height.

Answer 2

Ripple Amplitude

Answer 3

Conservation of energy. Each ripple represents a change in potential energy for the raised portion of ripple. As the ripple spreads, the circumference is likewise increased, so the energy density is the total energy divided by the circumference. Since the energy per unit length of the circumference decreases, the ripple height must also decrease.

Answer 4

a disturbance created in a radiating medium propagates outward at some given velocity. the energy of that disturbance is distributed around the wave front which is getting bigger, so that at any point as the ripple expands the circumference gets larger and the energy per unit of circumference is divided into that circumference gets dissipated until the circumference is so large that you cannot even see the wave energy anymore.

Answer 5

Both correct. And there's also the fact that the viscosity of the water actually 'uses' a bit of energy. Try dropping a stone into a tray of honey ☺


Doug

Answer 6

Energy is transmitted over a wider perimeter as you move further out.