8.03SC | Fall 2016 | Undergraduate

Physics III: Vibrations and Waves

Part II: Electromagnetic Waves

Lecture 13: Dispersive Medium, Phase Velocity, Group Velocity

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Lecture Topics

  • Dispersion
  • Dispersive medium
  • Phase velocity
  • Group velocity
  • Beat phenomenon

Lecture Video: Dispersive Medium, Phase Velocity, Group Velocity

Sending a square pulse as a basic communication tool is the main focus of this lecture. Prof. Lee discusses the phenomenon of dispersion in a realistic medium and the strategy to describe this kind of physics situation.

Lecture Notes

Typed Notes for Lecture 13 (PDF - 1.1MB)

Handwritten Notes for Lecture 13 (PDF - 1.9MB)

Textbook Reading

Chapter 8: Traveling Waves (PDF - 1.4MB) (section 8.3 to end) 

Chapter 9: The Boundary at Infinity (PDF - 1.3MB) (through section 9.2) 

Problem Set

Problem Set 7 (PDF)

Problem Solving Help Video*

Accelerated Charges Radiating Electromagnetic Waves

In-class Demonstrations

SEE IT IN THE LECTURE
Bell Labs Wave Machine

* Note: This Problem Solving Help video was originally produced as part of a physics course that is no longer available on OCW.

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Fall 2016
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