Battle of Trafalgar

[LaurieAG]

Originally Posted by modest

I can't think of a better historical example of this physics problem (especially for someone in the UK) Granted, I'm not a historian. What example were you thinking of?

-modest

Hi Modest,

I've asked a few people who know quite a bit about practical sailing, navigation (including lecturers of Celestial Navigation) and the battle of Trafalgar and not one of those people gave me that type of answer.

It just seems to me that (after the fact) somebody took the 'weather gage' tactic in naval warfare under sail, that was brought to the fore at Trafalgar, and in a very superficial way, mistook 'weather guage' for a barometer.

[modest]

Originally Posted by LaurieAG

It just seems to me that (after the fact) somebody took the 'weather gage' tactic in naval warfare under sail, that was brought to the fore at Trafalgar, and in a very superficial way, mistook 'weather guage' for a barometer.

I'm not asking you about weather gauge.

I'm asking about this question:

Originally Posted by Becca

The day before the battle a heavy swell was running (ships experienced waves of large amplitude and wavelength). The next day, heavy seas struck the fleet. I have to explain this series of events.

This question has nothing whatsoever to do with weather gauge or naval tactics or who won the battle or how.

Originally Posted by LaurieAG

Teachers should make questions more relevant to history than what was contained in the question you describe

What historical example of wave dispersion do you suggest? Notice that it doesn't have to be a naval example. Acceptable suggestions could be the chicxulub impact or a tsunami. Instead of telling the teachers out there this is a bad example, give us a better one. Put it in the form of a physics question with a historical frame where the answer is dispersion. I think this could be helpful and I honestly cannot think of a better historical example than Becca's.

-modest

[Qfwfq]

Laurie that's enough with this pointless troll, Becca asked for help and it had nothing to do with the things you've been bringing into the matter.

Thread closed.