Article View: sci.misc
Article #725Wave and Group Velocity
From: Malcolm Melville
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1988 21:52
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1988 21:52
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Just read the stuff on the difference between sound and light waves and it reminded me that I was always confused by this concept of wave and group velocities. It was explained to me one time using the model of a pair of scissors closing. The intersection point of the blades moves rapidly and is like the group velocity. The points of the blades are real physical points and move slower abd are like the wave velocity. (I told you I didn't ever unerstand this stuff.) Does this mean that the group velocity is always larger than the wave velocity? Is it true that the group velocity can be greater than the speed of light?? How does this affect me?? All explainations welcome!! Malcolm -- The views expressed are my own rather than my employers. Mind you lots of other guys round here feel the same way. Malcolm Melville
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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!mnetor!uunet!mcvax!ukc!stc!idec!alice!malcolm From: malcolm@alice.marlow.reuters.co.uk (Malcolm Melville) Newsgroups: sci.misc Subject: Wave and Group Velocity Message-ID: <251@alice.marlow.reuters.co.uk> Date: 19 Feb 88 21:52:19 GMT Organization: Reuters Ltd, London, England Lines: 20