Wake (physics)

Parachutes deployed into wakes suffer dynamic pressure deficits which reduce their expected drag forces.

As with all wave forms, it spreads outward from the source until its energy is overcome or lost, usually by friction or dispersion.

In practice the wave pattern between the V-shaped wavefronts is usually mixed with the effects of propeller backwash and eddying behind the boat's (usually square-ended) stern.

The Kelvin angle is also derived for the case of deep water in which the fluid is not flowing in different speed or directions as a function of depth ("shear").

[2] Also, the deep water model neglects surface tension, which implies that the wave source is large compared to capillary length.