Mathnificent Word of the Week

Originally posted on
July 25, 2023

Photo by Li Yang on Unsplash

wave

/(wāv/

noun

A partial differential equation representing a disturbance that moves through space or matter.

“To find that perfect moment of equilibrium in the ocean, Fernando evaluated all the functions at play.”

Photo by Li Yang on Unsplash

The most important sum sum summertime calculation of them all.

When you’re about to interact with a body of water, there’s a few mathematical components of a wave that you (un)consciously take into consideration:

Its amplitude, the measurement of vibration and spin that’s contributing to its arc.
Its frequency, the positioning of the waves as they cross a particular point.
Its wavelength, the expanse of which contributes to its overall momentum.
And its phase, the timing & pacing of just one revolution of a wave, which leads us to that one thing any practiced ocean swimmer realizes is the most significant component to keep an eye on.

You’re looking for the shift.

Yup, the shift in the phase. It’s the measurement of the always changing timing between the waves, and oh yes, I know you know that sometimes that shift can be hard to handle, but, oh, when it is just right for you, it’s great.

Sometimes it is just right when it’s low and steady and rocking you like a baby to sleep as you sit in your rowboat to fish.

Sometimes it is just right when the wave phase is extreme because it’s perfect for surfing yet the shift is lonnnng so that you can get back out past the break for your next ride in.

And sometimes it is just right so that you can jump the waves, feel safe in the big water with friends, and cool off on a stupid hot day.

There’s plenty of hawt summer playtime left. The shift will invariably, well, keep shifting. BUT, here’s what’s the coolest part of this particular hotness: If you’re unable to lock into the shift that is just right for you when you’re needing it to be a particular way?? It’s guaranteed to change. Your ‘just right’ may be on the horizon.

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