Mathematical equation needed for the following A junction buoy is mounted 2 miles out to sea attached by chain to the seabed. How do you calculate the drift radius for high and low tide.?

Answer 1

First, on nautical charts, find the chart datum depth. Then find out what the highest astronomical tide height is, add allowance for maximum wave height, thus having the scope (length of chain). From the local tide tables, find out what height low and high tides are (changes daily) thus having tide amplitude. Use hypotenuse formula to find radius of drift.

Answer 2

To calculate the drift radius for high tide, you can use the formula:

Drift radius = √(chain length^2 - distance squared from buoy to seabed)

For low tide, the drift radius would depend on the length of the chain and the water depth, but you would use a similar equation accounting for the new chain length and distance to the seabed at low tide.