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Sam Prince Franklin - 20MIS1115 - Physics Lab 9

This physics lab report examines the behavior of electromagnetic waves traveling in a medium. The student observed how wave patterns change for different values of the angular frequency difference (Δω) and angular wavenumber difference (Δk) between two waves. The group velocity was found to be 1 in all observations. Wave patterns are not the same for different Δω and Δk values because a signal consists of waves that travel together as a group. Both phase and group velocity increase with increasing Δω and Δk. Phase and group velocity are equal only when waves propagate in a vacuum.

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639 views7 pages

Sam Prince Franklin - 20MIS1115 - Physics Lab 9

This physics lab report examines the behavior of electromagnetic waves traveling in a medium. The student observed how wave patterns change for different values of the angular frequency difference (Δω) and angular wavenumber difference (Δk) between two waves. The group velocity was found to be 1 in all observations. Wave patterns are not the same for different Δω and Δk values because a signal consists of waves that travel together as a group. Both phase and group velocity increase with increasing Δω and Δk. Phase and group velocity are equal only when waves propagate in a vacuum.

Uploaded by

Sam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Physics Lab Report – 9 Sam Prince Franklin K

20MIS1115

AIM:
To understand the behavior of Electro Magnetic waves travelling in a medium with the help of
Phase and Group velocities.

Theory:
Waves can be in the group and such groups are called wave packets, so the velocity with a
wave packet travels is called group velocity. The velocity with which the phase of a wave travels is
called phase velocity. The relation between group velocity and phase velocity are proportionate.

Where,

• Vg is the group velocity.


• Vp is the phase velocity.
• k is the angular wavenumber.

Any real signal consists of travelling-waves of many different frequencies, which travel together
as a group, at a speed that will always be <= the speed of light in vacuum.

In order to get some insight into what may happen when a real signal travels through a
dispersive medium, we consider adding two waves of equal amplitude. When two travelling waves with
unit amplitudef1(z,t)=cos(k1z−ω1t) and f2(z,t)=cos(k2z−ω2t) are added, we get
Physics Lab Report – 9 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

Observation:
S. Δω Δk Wave pattern of the resultant waves Vg
No
1 0.02 0.02 t=0 1

t=1

2 0.04 0.04 t=0 1

t=1
Physics Lab Report – 9 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

3 0.06 0.06 t=0 1

t=1

4 0.08 0.08 t=0 1

t=1

5 0.1 0.1 1
t=0
Physics Lab Report – 9 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

t=1

6 0.2 0.2 t=0 1

t=1

7 0.3 0.3 t=0 1

t=1
Physics Lab Report – 9 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

8 0.4 0.4 t=0 1

t=1

9 0.5 0.5 t=0 1

t=1

10 0.8 0.8 t=0 1

t=1
Physics Lab Report – 9 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

Result:
The ground velocity is found to be 1

Inferences:
1)Are the wave patterns for various values of Δω and Δk same? If not, why?

The wave patterns for various values of Δω and Δk are not the same. A signal consists of
travelling waves of different frequencies, which travel together as a group. When the waves of equal
magnitude get superimposed, the resultant wave has an equation 2cos( ∆𝑘/ 2 𝑧 − ∆𝑤 /2 𝑡)cos(𝑘z - 𝑤t ).
The result is a wave that travels with a phase velocity vp = 𝑤/ 𝑘 , group velocity given by vg = ∆𝑤 ∆𝑘 and
the amplitude of the wave is being modulated by 2cos( ∆𝑘 /2 𝑧 − ∆𝑤 /2 𝑡).Thus the wave patterns are
not same for various values of Δω and Δk.

2)Comment on the Phase velocity (Vp) of the waves for increased values of Δω and Δk.

Group Velocity and Phase Velocity both are directly proportional to each other. Therefore, if
there is an increase in values of Δw and Δk then group velocity and phase velocity will increase
simultaneously.

3)When do we see Vp and Vg being the same.

When two monochromatic waves are propagating in vacuum, they have the same phase
velocity and the superposed wave’s phase velocity equals its group velocity.
Physics Lab Report – 9 Sam Prince Franklin K
20MIS1115

4)Draw a typical dispersion relation curve (ω-k curve) for Vp= Vg and Vp≠ Vg cases.

If ω is directly proportional to k, then the group velocity is exactly equal to

the phase velocity.

For Vp=Vg

ω - k Curve
1
0.8
0.6
ω

0.4
0.2
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
K

For Vp≠Vg

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