Wave propagation speed

Lower propagation velocity, also called propagation velocity, is defined as the rate at which the propagation takes place in a physical system. A distinction is the phase velocity of a harmonic wave and the group velocity of a pulse-like local disturbance (eg bang, photon). This refers to

  • A physical effect, see also retarded potential,
  • The phase of a wave,
  • A wave packet.

As a vectorial field size, the propagation velocity defined by a direction vector a direction of propagation of the wave vector.

Propagation speed in waves

For the velocity of a wave

Here, the wavelength and frequency of the wave.

For electromagnetic and acoustic waves is taken instead of the letters (Latin Celeritas Engl. speed ) for the light or the speed of sound.

The dispersion, the propagation velocity in a medium is dependent on the wavelength. Then the group velocity of the above phase velocity is to be distinguished. The speed of sound, however, is a constant in many media over wide wavelength ranges.

  • Physical size
  • Wave

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