Paper 3, Section II, 38B
The dispersion relation in a stationary medium is given by , where is a known function. Show that, in the frame of reference where the medium has a uniform velocity , the dispersion relation is given by .
An aircraft flies in a straight line with constant speed through air with sound speed . If show that, in the reference frame of the aircraft, the steady waves lie behind it on a cone of semi-angle . Show further that the unsteady waves are confined to the interior of the cone.
A small insect swims with constant velocity over the surface of a pool of water. The resultant capillary waves have dispersion relation on stationary water, where and are constants. Show that, in the reference frame of the insect, steady waves have group velocity
where . Deduce that the steady wavefield extends in all directions around the insect.