Laplace's Equation

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The velocity potential Φ satisfies Laplace's equation if we can assume that the fluid is inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational.

Laplace's equation is the following in two dimensions

\nabla^2\phi = \frac{\partial^2 \phi}{\partial x^2} + \frac{\partial^2 \phi}{\partial z^2} = 0

and in three dimensions

\nabla^2\phi = \frac{\partial^2 \phi}{\partial x^2} + \frac{\partial^2 \phi}{\partial y^2}+ \frac{\partial^2 \phi}{\partial z^2} = 0

The typical solution to Laplace's equation oscillates in one direction and decays in another. The linear water wave arises as a boundary wave which decays in the vertical direction and has wave properties in the horizontal direction.

See Also

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