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1.9.2 Shocks

Shock wave is one of a propagating disturbance. It carries energy

and can propagate through a medium or through an electromagnetic field.
Across a shock, there is always a rapid rise in temperature, density and

pressure of the flow. Shock waves arise because of the balance between

nonlinear effects and wave-damping dissipative forces. Unlike solitons,
shock energy dissipates quickly with distance as shown in Fig.(1.6).

Fig.(1.6): Shock wave for KP-Burgers equation.

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