Can anyone explain dispersion to me in simple words?

[Knight_ever]

Can anyone explain "dispersion" to me in simple words?

Can anyone explain "dispersion" to me in simple words?

like,, when waves escape from a small gap why would they s[read out in circles?

thnx for help!

 

[collinsmark]

Hello Knight ever,

Welcome to Physics Forums.

Can anyone explain "dispersion" to me in simple words?

like,, when waves escape from a small gap why would they s[read out in circles?

thnx for help!

Do you mean "diffraction"?

Here's a Wikipedia article on diffraction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction

 

[armanzBSE]

tell us what dispersion is. i badly need it for my research. I am still clueless for that.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Dispersion is the relationship between frequency and wavelength. If the index of refraction of a material is wavelength dependent, it is also called 'dispersive'. Dispersion can be generally applied to any system involving waves: surface waves, electron transport in matter, etc.

 

[netheril96]

Dispersion means that the relationship between angular frequency and wavenumber is not linear
In this case,the wave will deform when propagating,or to say the diffrent components of the waves disperse