Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2018/ib/paper-4/18d/solution

Let be the velocity potential. The linearized deep-water equations are for , and at , with zero normal velocity at the four side walls. The normal modes are
where are not both zero. The free-surface conditions give the dispersion relation for a deep-water gravity wave:
The initial displacement is the mode, so . Release from rest selects a cosine in time:
Velocity decays as , so it falls to of its surface value at depth .

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