wave-physics

name	wave-physics
description	Apply wave physics principles when working on simulation code. Use this skill when editing files in src/waves/, src/simulation/, or when the user mentions wave behavior, shoaling, breaking, or foam physics.

Wave Physics Validation

When working on wave simulation or physics code, validate against these foundational principles.

Core Principles (from plans/00-principles.md)

1. Waves are energy, not water movement - Water particles move in orbital paths, not with the wave
2. Deep water: Circular orbital motion, unaffected by seafloor
3. Shallow water: Elliptical orbits compressed by seafloor friction
4. Shoaling: Waves slow down, compress, and increase in height as depth decreases
5. Breaking criteria: Wave breaks when height > 0.78 × water depth

Validation Checklist

When reviewing or writing physics code:

• Does the implementation treat waves as energy propagation?
• Is orbital motion correctly circular (deep) vs elliptical (shallow)?
• Does shoaling increase wave height as depth decreases?
• Is the 0.78 breaking ratio respected?
• Are foam effects tied to energy dissipation at breaking?

Reference Files

• plans/00-principles.md - Foundational physics concepts
• plans/reference/reference-wave-physics.md - Detailed physics reference
• plans/model/ - Implementation plans for physics systems

When to Apply

Automatically apply this skill when:

• Editing files matching src/**/wave*.js or src/**/simulation*.js
• User mentions: shoaling, wave breaking, orbital motion, foam physics
• Creating or editing plans in plans/model/