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Re: [Phys-L] Do waves ever transfer mass?



Antti,
There are a number of examples of waves carrying mas:
surfers holding their phase in a surface wave:
various particles being accelerated on a favorable
 em wave in a particle accelerator;
 birds cruising uplift waves on mountain winds

Brian W

On 5/6/2020 1:28 AM, Antti Savinainen via Phys-l wrote:
Hi,


I'm teaching an online HS course on waves. A bright student asked whether a
wave ever transports mass. He referred to the model we are using which
states that in a mechanical wave only energy moves, not mass (or the motion
of mass is very limited, say, in a water wave). Does a tsunami make an
exception? I quite understand what happens when a tsunami reaches the shore.
However, a tsunami can travel a few hundred meters inland, even a couple of
miles according to sources I read. This clearly is both transporting energy
and mass. How would you recommend explaining this in terms of HS physics?


Take care,


Antti Savinainen, PhD

Finland

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