Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / ib / Paper 2 / 7A / Solution

The free surface is a material surface, so its kinematic boundary condition isWith constant atmospheric pressure $p_a$ and no surface tension, the dynamic boundary condition for an inviscid interface follows from Unsteady Bernoulli equation:Write $\varphi =Ux+\phi$, where $\phi$ and $\eta$ are small. Choose the time-dependent potential gauge so the undisturbed right-hand side is $U^2/2$. Retaining first-order terms, evaluated at $y=0$, givesThe incompressibility condition also gives Laplace's equation for $\phi$.

Set $\Omega =\omega -kU$. Substitution of the specified normal mode into the two linearized boundary conditions yields $-i\Omega a=ikb$ and $\Omega b+ga=0$. Eliminating $b$ gives the dispersion relationThe decay factor $e^{ky}$ in a fluid extending to $y=-\infty$ uses $k>0$. With signed wavenumber the decaying factor is $e^{|k|y}$ and the right-hand side is $g|k|$. The frequency shift is the advection of a deep-water gravity wave by the uniform current.