Wave Motions in Fluids Freefrom Viscosity
279
One can infer that the considered wave motions are periodical, with regard
to space as well as time. Oscillations on the other hand are periodical either
concerning time or space.
- Fortpflanzungsrichtung
der
Welle
~ellenlang~
. . ....... . . . .. .
_-
...
<E-
•
-+~~.
E-
<Eo-
~
•
~-+
~
~
~~
Verdichtung Vcrdunnung Verdichtung
/'"
Longidudinalwelle
.... -
............
.
1
l
_
..
fl
t t
"1-j
r
~
~
t-j
I , .-tf 1
Wellen lange
Fig. Instantaneous Image
of
a Progressing Longitudinal and Transversal Wave
Mechanical longitudinal waves, which are characterized by condensations
and dilutions, i.e. by specific changes in volume or density, can exist
in
all
matters having
"volume elasticity", i.e. react with elastic counter forces in
case
of
occurring volume changes. Such counter forces form in gases, as volume
changes are coupled to pressure changes, so that for an ideal gas at
T = const
holds
P . dv =
-v
. dP,
and thus longitudinal waves can occur in isothermal gases, which are not
possible in thermodynamically ideal fluids because
of
p =
ltv
= const. makes
also clear that the formation
of
transversal waves is dependent on the presence
of
"shear forces", i.e. lateral forces, in order to permit the wave motion
of
"particles" diagonally to the direction
of
propagation. With this mechanical
transversal waves only occur in solid matters which can build up elastic
transversal forces in the case
of
corresponding stress. In purely viscose fluids
no transversal waves are possible. At first sight his statement seems to be a
contradiction to observations
of
water waves whose development and
propagation can be observed easily when one throws an object in a water
container.
A transversal wave develops which, however, proves to be a wave motion
restricting itself to a small area on the water surface.
In
the interior
of
the
fluid the wave motion cannot be observed. Moreover can be seen that the
observed wave on the surface does not form owing to
"shear forces" but that
the presence
of
gravity or the occurrence
of
surface tensions are responsible
for the wave motion.
In fluids the most different wave motions are possible, whose initiation
and conservation are connected to an energy input into the fluid. For the
generation
of
a wave and its conservation a certain work e ort is necessary