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Question
Explain why (or how) The shape of a pulse gets distorted during propagation in a dispersive medium.
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Solution 1
A pulse is actually is a combination of waves having different wavelengths. These waves travel in a dispersive medium with different velocities, depending on the nature of the medium. This results in the distortion of the shape of a wave pulse.
Solution 2
A pulse of sound consists of a combination of waves of different wavelength. In a dispersive medium, these waves travel with different velocities giving rise to the distortion in the wave.
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