ABSTRACT
The water particles under the waves actually travel in orbits that are circular in deep water, gradually becoming horizontal-elliptical (flat-elliptical) near the surface as in Figure 12.3.
The power that can be generated by an ideal sinusoidal water wave of certain width is estimated next. The power is the rate of change in potential energy as the water level rises above and falls below the average sea level at the site. Referring to Figure 12.4, the mass of water in one-half sine wave that is above the average sea level is given by
mass w hw
= ρ λ2 2 2 (12.1)
where w = wave width, ρ = density of seawater, λ = wave length, and hw = wave height (trough to crest).
