Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/ii/paper-4/38a/c/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 4 38A c Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
The obstacle and wave pattern are stationary, so . Withthe dispersion relation becomesHence , so , and
Differentiating the dispersion relation with respect to the wavevector giveswhere the zero-frequency relation
was used. Its first component is always negative, so the ray angle lies inMoreover,
was used. Its first component is always negative, so the ray angle lies inMoreover,
Put . The magnitude of the slope relative to the negative -axis isIts derivative isso its global maximum occurs at and equalsTherefore all group-velocity rays lie in the stationary square-root-dispersion wakea wedge of semi-angle extending in the negative -direction.
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