1902 Encyclopedia > Tides > [Dynamical Theory of Tides] Adaptation to Forced Oscillations

Tides
(Part 12)




III. DYNAMICAL THEORY OF TIDES (cont.)

12. Adaptation to Forced Oscillations


Since we may suppose that the free oscillations are annulled by friction, the solution required is that corresponding to forced oscillations. Now we have seen from (13) that (which is proportional to V) has terms of three kinds, the first depending on twice the moon’s (or sun’s) hour-angle, the second on the hour-angle, and the third independent thereof. The coefficients of the first and second terms vary slowly, and the whole of the third varies slowly. Hence
has a semi-diurnal, a diurnal, and a long period term. We shall see later that these terms may be expanded in a series of approximately semi-diurnal, diurnal, and slowly varying terms, each of which is a strictly harmonic function of the time. Thus we may assume for a form e cos (2nft + kφ + a), where f and k are numbers, and where e is only a function of co-latitude and of the elements of the orbit of the disturbing body. According to the usual method of treating oscillating systems, we may therefore make the following assumption for the form of solution



where e, h, x, y are functions of co-latitude θ only. Substituting these values in (19), we have



Then, if we write u for h - e, and put m = n2a/g, substitution from (20) in (17) leads at once to



Solving (22) for x and y, we have



Then substituting from (23) in (21), we have



This is Laplace’s equation for tidal oscillations in an ocean whose depth is only a function of latitude. When u is found from this equation, its value substituted in (23) will give x and y.






Read the rest of this article:
Tides - Table of Contents






About this EncyclopediaTop ContributorsAll ContributorsToday in History
Sitemaps
Terms of UsePrivacyContact Us



© 2005-23 1902 Encyclopedia. All Rights Reserved.

This website is the free online Encyclopedia Britannica (9th Edition and 10th Edition) with added expert translations and commentaries