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Wave Packet, Phase Velocity, and Group Velocity

·110 words
icysamon
Author
icysamon
Electronics & Creator

Wave Packet (Wave Group)
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It is a localized wave or undulation that behaves like a single, moving mass of waves.

There is only one point where the amplitude reaches its maximum.

When focusing solely on this wave packet, it appears to behave as if it were a particle. In other words, intuitively, a wave packet can be thought of as a particle.

This explanation is physically somewhat imprecise.

Group Velocity
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The velocity at which the overall shape (the wave packet) propagates when multiple waves are superimposed.

$$v_g = \frac{d\omega}{dk}$$

Phase Velocity
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The velocity of each individual wave.

$$v = \frac{\omega}{k}$$

Relations
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$$k \equiv \frac{2\pi}{\lambda}$$$$\omega \equiv 2\pi\nu$$