Understanding Wave Speed: Definitions and Concepts in Unidirectional Wave Motion

[pardesi]

say for example there is a pulse through a string .then what exactly is wave speed or for that matter in case of unidirectional wave motion

 

[russ_watters]

Could you rephrase the question...I'm not sure what you are asking. Are you asking what determines the speed of a wave? If so, the answer is the tension and elastic modulus of the string.

 

[pardesi]

how do u define wave speed

 

[ZapperZ]

What's wrong with $v=f\lambda$?

Zz.

 

[pardesi]

i want to have the definition well the espression is well one perhaps a physical interpretation will do

 

[genneth]

Well, you get a wave, and look at how fast the peaks and troughs are moving.

 

[ZapperZ]

i want to have the definition well the espression is well one perhaps a physical interpretation will do

Could you say that again and maybe, this time, include a few punctuations?

Zz.

 

[pardesi]

Sorry i didn't realize that how difficult is it to read that line without punctuation.
Could u please define Wave speed in general mathematically

 

[f95toli]

There is no general definition for the speed of a "wave" if you by "wave" also mean pulses etc.

*The velocity at which a plane wave would propagate through a medium $$c$$ this is a constant which depends on properties of the medium (e.g. the speed of light or the speed of sound)

*Phase velocity, $$v_p=\omega/\beta$$, is the speed at which a constant phase point (i.e. a maximum) travels. $$\beta$$ is the propagation constant.

*Group velocity $$v_g=(d\beta/dt)^{-1}$$, is the speed at which a signal (such as a pulse) propagates thorugh a medium. This is only a meaninfull concept for signals with a narrow bandwidth or in media with low dispersion.

Note that you can have $$v_p>c$$.