What term is used to describe the wave pattern produced on the water surface downstream of an object in a flow?

The term "wakes" refers to the distinct wave pattern that forms on the water surface behind an object as it moves through the flow of water. This phenomenon occurs due to the disturbance caused by the object displacing water as it moves, resulting in a series of waves that trail behind the object. The characteristics of the wake, such as its size and how it dissipates, are influenced by factors like the speed of the object, the shape of the object, and the properties of the water.

In contrast, swells are larger undulating waves that can occur over great distances in open water, typically caused by distant weather systems. Ripples are smaller, shorter waves, often created by light winds or small disturbances, and do not have the same length or vigor that wakes exhibit. Currents refer to the continuous flow of water in a specific direction and are not specifically related to an object creating a wave pattern behind it.

Overall, wakes effectively illustrate how the interaction of solid objects with fluid dynamics produces observable patterns in water surfaces, highlighting fundamental principles in fluid mechanics that are essential for civil engineers, particularly in areas like hydrodynamics and environmental engineering.