1. What is Wave Angular Frequency?

Wave Angular Frequency (ω) is the rate of change of the phase of the wave over time, representing how rapidly the wave oscillates in radians per second. It is a fundamental parameter in harmonic analysis of tidal patterns.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \omega \) — Wave Angular Frequency (rad/s)
• \( \pi \) — Archimedes' constant (≈ 3.14159)
• \( T_n \) — Period of the nth Contribution (seconds)

Explanation: The angular frequency is inversely proportional to the period of the wave component, with the constant 2π converting from cycles to radians.

3. Importance in Tide Prediction

Details: Accurate calculation of angular frequencies is essential for harmonic analysis of tides, allowing prediction of tidal patterns by decomposing them into constituent harmonic components with different periods.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the period of the nth contribution in seconds. The value must be greater than zero to produce a valid angular frequency calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the relationship between angular frequency and regular frequency?
A: Angular frequency (ω) is related to regular frequency (f) by ω = 2πf, where f is measured in Hertz (cycles per second).

Q2: Why use angular frequency instead of regular frequency?
A: Angular frequency is more convenient for mathematical operations involving trigonometric functions and differential equations in wave analysis.

Q3: What are typical period values for tidal constituents?
A: Tidal constituents have periods ranging from hours (e.g., M2 tide ~12.42 hours) to days (e.g., Ssa tide ~182.6 days).

Q4: How is this used in practical tide prediction?
A: Multiple harmonic components with different angular frequencies are summed to create comprehensive tidal predictions.

Q5: What are the units of angular frequency?
A: Angular frequency is measured in radians per second (rad/s), representing the angular displacement per unit time.