VGROUP

Animation of Wave Packet

This animation shows a traveling wave packet, representing the real part of the wave function of a free particle. The envelope of the wave packet moves with the group velocity. Individual waves within the envelope move with the phase velocity.

stop Pause animation. Press stop again to resume animation.
restart Puts wave packet at beginning. Press stop to resume animation.
velocity Displays two vertical lines. One line moves with the speed of the group velocity. The other line moves with the speed of the phase velocity. Press velocity again to remove the two vertical lines.