Bow wake

Definition

A bow wake is a wave pattern produced at the front of an object moving through a fluid, such as water or air. It occurs when the object moves faster than the speed of waves in that medium.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Bow wakes are analogous to shock waves in fluids and sonic booms in air.
2. The angle of the bow wake depends on the speed of the object relative to the wave speed in the medium.
3. Bow wakes can be observed with boats moving through water and aircraft exceeding the speed of sound.
4. The narrower the bow wake angle, the higher the speed of the object relative to wave propagation.
5. Bow wakes contribute to resistance and energy loss for objects moving through a medium.

Review Questions

• What causes a bow wake to form?
• How does the angle of a bow wake change with increasing speed?
• In what ways are bow wakes similar to shock waves and sonic booms?

Related terms

Doppler Effect:

The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to its source.

Sonic Boom:

A loud explosive noise caused by the shock wave from an aircraft traveling faster than the speed of sound.

Shock Wave:

A type of propagating disturbance that moves faster than local sound and can cause abrupt changes in pressure, temperature, and density.