A Physics Puzzle That Has Not Been Solved For 127 Years

The theory of Kelvin's angle, a theory that the waves left behind by an object moving in water at most 39 degrees, was refuted by researchers. Although the waves were largely within 39 degrees, the accuracy of this theory was not fixed.
Unless it is very shallow, waves form behind anything that goes in the water. It could be a tiny baby duck that created these waves, or a huge cargo ship. Until now, it was thought that these waves would always spread in a certain range. However, scientists have shown that this theory is not true.

Simen Adnoy Ellingsen from the NTNU Department of Energy and Processing Engineering succeeded in frustrating the theory in a study with his graduate student Benjamin Keller Smeltzer.

wave-pattern

The researcher Ellingsen said, “Nobody told me that it was such a difficult area .

In order to have fluctuations at different angles, there must be different layers of currents in the water.

The practical results of the research seem to affect the purchasing power of people through the logistics sector in general. The formation and structure of these waves is also related to the resistance applied by water. Therefore, the studies to be carried out by examining these structures have the potential to seriously affect fuel consumption. Ellingsen, the current against the current swim in the same direction between the current consumption of fuel consumption can be doubled, he said.

Ellingsen says their results did not actually eliminate Kelvin's theory, but expanded his scope. This degree will not change unless there is current under the surface, the researcher said, theoretically waves can occur even in front of the boat. According to Ellingsen, when the angle starts to increase due to the change in currents, you have to 'go elsewhere'.