Wave Packet & Dispersion
This interactive simulator explores Wave Packet & Dispersion in Waves & Sound. Superpose cos(kx−ωt); ω=ck+αk²; spreading vs Wave on String PDE. Use the controls to change the scenario; watch the visualization and any graphs or readouts to connect the model with lectures, labs, and homework.
Who it's for: Best once you already know the basic definitions and want to build intuition. Typical context: Waves & Sound.
Key terms
- wave
- packet
- dispersion
- wave packet dispersion
- waves
- sound
Live graphs
How it works
**Wave on a String** in this lab solves a damped wave PDE with a driven boundary — good for propagation and reflections. This page instead builds a **packet** as a sum of sinusoids with a **dispersion relation** ω(k). When ω is linear in k (α = 0), the envelope travels unchanged; with **α ≠ 0**, components walk out of phase and the packet **disperses**.
Key equations
More from Waves & Sound
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