❖ Phase And Group Velocity

4. The relation between angular frequency 𝜔

1. The dispersion relation for phonons in ID and wave number 𝑘 for given type of waves
monoatomic Bravais lattice is given by, is 𝜔2 = 𝛼𝑘 + 𝛽𝑘 3 . The wave number 𝑘0 for
which the phase velocity equals the group
2𝐶
𝜔(𝑘) = √ (1 − cos 𝑘𝑎) velocity is: [JAM 2006]
𝑀
3 𝛼 1 𝛼
for long wavelength, find the ratio of phase (a) √ (b) ( ) √
𝛽 3 𝛽
and group velocities. [CSIR]
(a) 2: 1 (b) 3: 2 𝛼 1 𝛼
(c)√ (d) ( ) √
(c) 4: 3 (d)1:1 𝛽 2 𝛽

2. The dispersion relation of phonons in a 5. Electromagnetic wave of angular frequency

solid is given by 𝜔 is propagating in a medium in which,
𝜔2 (𝑘) = 𝜔02 (3 − cos 𝑘𝑥 𝑎 − cos 𝑘𝑦 𝑎 − cos 𝑘𝑧 𝑎) over a band of frequencies, the refractive
index is 𝑛(𝜔) ≈
The velocity of the phonons at large 𝜔 2
wavelength is [CSIR JUNE 2012] 1−( )
𝜔0
𝑣𝑔
(a) 𝜔0 𝑎/√3 (b) 𝜔0 𝑎 , where 𝜔0 is a constant. The ratio 𝑣 of the
𝑝
(c) √3𝜔0 𝑎 (d) 𝜔0 𝑎/√2
group velocity to the phase velocity at 𝜔 =
𝜔0
is
2
3. The phonon dispersion relation for the
[CSIR DEC 2018]
following ID diatomic lattice with masses (a) 3 (b) 1/4
𝑚1 and 𝑚2 is given by, (c) 2/3 (d) 2
1 1
𝜔2 = 𝛽 ( + ) (1 6. The wave number 𝑘 and the angular
𝑚1 𝑚2 frequency 𝜔 of a wave are related by the
dispersion relation 𝜔2 = 𝛼𝑘 + 𝛽𝑘 3 , where
4𝑚1 𝑚2 2
𝑘𝑎 𝛼 and 𝛽 are positive constants. The wave
− √1 − ⋅ sin )
(𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )2 2 number for which the phase velocity equals
the group velocity, is [CSIR JUNE 2019]
The group velocity is the large wavelength
8 𝛼 𝛼
limit is, [CSIR] (a) √ (b) √
𝛽 𝛽
𝛽 2𝛽
(a)𝑎√ (b) 𝑎√
2(𝑚1 − 𝑚2 ) (𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )
1 𝛼 1 𝛼
(c) √ (d) √
2 𝛽 3 𝛽
𝛽 𝛽𝑎
(c)√ (d)
2(𝑚1 + 𝑚2 ) 2(𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )
7. The frequency dispersion relation of the frequency 𝜔 around 𝜔0 = 100 and the
surface waves of a fluid of density 𝜌 and corresponding wave-number k with k 0 =
temperature 𝑇, is given by 𝜔2 = 𝑔𝑘 + 10 as given in the table below
𝑇𝑘 3 /𝜌, where 𝜔 and 𝑘 are the angular
frequency and wavenumber, respectively, 𝑔 𝜔 𝑘
is the acceleration due to gravity. The first
81.00 9.0
term in r.h.s. describes the gravity waves
and the second term describes the surface 90.25 9.5
tension wave. What is the ratio of the first
term to the second term, when the phase 100.00 10.0
velocity is equal to the group velocity? 110.25 10.5
[JEST 2023]
(a) 1 (b) 4 121.00 11.0
(c) 3 (d) 7
Find the ratio 𝑣𝑔 /𝑔𝑝 of the group velocity 𝑣𝑔
8. The energy of free relativistic particle 𝐸 =
and the phase velocity 𝑣𝑝 [JAM 2009]
√𝑝2 𝑐 2 + 𝑚02 𝑐 4, where 𝑚 is the rest mass 1
𝑣𝑔 (a) (b)1
and 𝑝 is momentum. The ratio 𝑣 is 2
𝑝

[CSIR] 3
2 2
𝑝 𝑐 √3 𝑃2 𝑐 2 (c) (d)2
2
(a) (b)
𝐸2 2 𝐸2
12. For a wave in a medium the angular
1 𝑃2 𝑐 2 𝑃2 𝑐 2 frequency ' 𝜔′ and the wave vector 𝑘 ⃗ are
(c) (d) 2 2 2 2
related by 𝜔 = (𝜔0 + 𝑐 𝑘 ), where 𝜔0 and
√2 𝐸 2 4𝐸 2
c are constants. The product of group and
phase velocities, i.e. 𝑣𝑔 𝑣p is: [JAM 2010]
2
(a) 0.25𝑐 (b) 0.4𝑐 2
9. The dispersion relation for phonon in a (c) 0.5𝑐 2
(d) 𝑐 2
solid is given by 𝜔2 = 𝜔02 (3 − cos 𝑘𝑥 𝑎 −
cos 𝑘𝑦 𝑎 − cos 𝑘𝑥 𝑎). The velocity of phonon 13. A traveling pulse is given by
at large wavelengths is, [GATE] 2𝑎𝑏𝑥𝑡 − 𝑎2 𝑥 2 − 𝑏 2 𝑡 2
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝐴exp ( )
𝑎𝑤0 𝑎𝑤0 𝑐2
(a) (b) , where 𝐴, 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are positive constants
2 3
of appropriate dimensions. The speed of the
𝑎𝑤0 𝑎𝜔0 pulse is [JAM 2013]
(c) (d) 𝑏 2𝑏
√2 √3 (a) (b)
𝑎 𝑎
10. A particle of rest mass 𝑚0 is moving 𝑐𝑏 𝑏
uniformly in a straight line with relativistic (c) (d)
𝑎 2𝑎
velocity 𝛽𝑐, where 𝑐 is the velocity of light
in vacuum and 0 < 𝛽 < 1. The phase 14. The electric field of a uniform plane wave
velocity of the de-Broglie wave associated propagating in a dielectric, non-conducting
with the particle is: [JAM 2006] medium is given by.
𝑐
(a)𝛽𝑐 (b) 𝐸⃗ = 𝑥ˆ10cos (6𝜋 × 107 𝑡 − 0.4𝜋𝑧)V/m
𝛽
𝑐 The phase velocity of the wave is………….
(c)𝑐 (d) 2
𝛽 × 108 m/s. [JAM 2014]

11. A wave packet in a certain medium is

constructed by superposing waves of
15. Light of wavelength 𝜆 (in free space) 18. Suppose that there is a dispersive medium
propagates through a dispersive medium whose refractive index depends on the
with refractive index 𝑛(𝜆) = 1.5 + 0.6𝜆. The wavelength as given by
group velocity of a wave travelling inside 𝑎 𝑏
𝑛(𝜆) = 𝑛0 + 2 − 4
this medium in units of 108 m/s is 𝜆 𝜆
[JAM 2019]
The value of 𝜆 at which the group and phase
(a) 1.5 (b) 2.0
velocitics would be the same, is: [JAM 2024]
(c) 3.0 (d) 4.0
2𝑏 𝑏
(a)√ (b) √
16. The dispersion relation for certain type of 𝑎 2𝑎
wave is given by 𝜔 = √𝑘 2 + 𝑎2 , where 𝑘 is
the wave vector and 𝑎 is a constant. Which
one of the following sketches represents 𝑣𝑔 , 3𝑏 𝑏
(c)√ (d) √
𝑎 3𝑎
the group velocity? [JAM 2022]

19. The dispersion relation for an

electromagnetic wave of angular frequency
𝜔2
𝜔 propagating in a wave guide is = 𝑘2 +
𝑐2
2𝜋
𝑘02 where 𝑘 = 𝜆 the wave propagation
constant and 𝜆 is the wave length, k 0 is a
constant and c is the speed of the wave in
free space. The product of the phase and
group velocities for such a system is
𝑐2
(a)0 (b)
(1 + 𝑘02 /𝑘 2 )

𝑘02
(c)c 2 (d)𝑐 2 (1 + )
𝑘2
17. The phase velocity 𝑣𝑝 of transverse waves
on a one-dimensional crystal of atomic 20. For deep water waves the frequency is
separation 𝑑 is related to the wavevector 𝑘 𝑔
given by 𝑣 = √2𝜋𝜆 , Vg (group velocity) is
as
sin (𝑘𝑑/2) proportional to
𝑣𝑝 = 𝑐
(𝑘𝑑/2) (a)𝜆1/2 (b)𝜆−1/2
. The group velocity of these waves is
(c)𝜆−3/2 (d)𝜆3/2
[JAM 2023]
sin (𝑘𝑑/2) 21. The waves propagating in a medium obey
(a)𝑐 [cos (𝑘𝑑/2) − ]
(𝑘𝑑/2) the dispersion relation 𝜔 = (𝑉 2 𝑘 2 + 𝜔02 )1/2
(b) 𝑐cos (𝑘𝑑/2) where 𝑉&𝜔0 constant. Find the ratio
sin (𝑘𝑑/2) between phase and group velocities
(c)𝑐 [cos (𝑘𝑑/2) + ]
(𝑘𝑑/2) 𝑉𝑝 𝜔02 𝑉𝑝 𝜔04
sin (𝑘𝑑/2) (a) = 1 + 2 2 (b) = 1 + 4 4
(d)𝑐 𝑉𝑔 𝑘 𝑣 𝑉𝑔 𝑘 𝑣
(𝑘𝑑/2)
𝑉𝑝 𝜔02 𝑉𝑝 𝜔04
(c) = 1 − 2 2 (d) = 1 − 4 4
𝑉𝑔 𝑘 𝑣 𝑉𝑔 𝑘 𝑣
22. The dispersion relationship for deep water 26. The dispersion relation for the mechanical
waves is given by 𝜔2 = 𝑔𝑘 + 𝑎𝑘 3 where ' 𝑔 wave representing the vibrations in a 1 D
' and ' a ' are constants. Find the phase 𝛾 𝑘𝑎
chain is given by 𝜔(𝑘) = 2√𝑀 sin , the
velocity in terms of 𝜆. 2
velocity of phonons at larger wavelength is
𝑔𝜆 2𝜋𝑎 2𝜋𝑎 given by
(a)√ + (b)√
2𝜋 𝜆 𝜆 𝛾 𝛾𝑎
(a)√ 𝑎 (b)√
𝑀 𝑀
𝑔𝜆 𝑔𝜆 𝑎𝜋
(c)√ (d)√ +
2𝜋 2𝜋 𝜆 𝛾 2𝛾
(c)√ 𝑎 (d)√ 𝑎
2𝑀 𝑀
23. Consider an inextensible string of linear
density ' 𝜇 ' (mass per unit length). If the
string is subject to a tension ' 𝑇 ' and the 27. Two harmonic waves are given by
velocity of the string waves is given by 𝑣 =
𝑦1 = 3cos (7𝑡 − 10𝑥)𝑚 and 𝑦2
√𝑇/𝜇. The phase and group velocities are
= 3cos (5𝑡 − 8𝑥)𝑚
(a) 𝑉𝑝ℎ > 𝑉𝑔 (b) 𝑉𝑝ℎ < 𝑉𝑔
These waves are superimposed to form a
(c) 𝑉𝑝ℎ = 𝑉𝑔 /2 (d) 𝑉𝑝ℎ = 𝑉𝑔
wave group. 'The group velocity is
(a) 1 m/s (b) 2 m/s
24. The dispersion relation for electrons in an (c) 5/7 m/s (d) 5/4 m/s
fcc crystal is given, in the tight binding
approximation by
𝑘𝑥 𝑎 𝑘𝑦 𝑎
𝜀(𝑘) = −4𝜀0 [cos cos
2 2 28. The dispersion relation for a wave is given
𝑘𝑦 𝑎 𝑘𝑥 𝑎 by 𝜔(𝑘) = 𝐶|sinka| where c is a constant.
+ cos cos
2 2 The group velocity of the wave becomes
𝑘𝑥 𝑎 𝑘𝑥 𝑎 zero when
+ cos cos ] 𝜋
2 2 (a)k = 0 (b)𝑘 = ±
where 𝑎 is the lattice constant and 𝜀0 is a 2𝑎
constant with the dimension of energy. The 𝜋 2𝜋
(c)k = ± (d)k = ±
𝑥 component of the velocity of the electrons 2 𝑎
𝜋
at (𝑎 , 0,0) is ?
29. The dispersion relation for surface
(a)−2𝜀0 𝑎/ℏ (b)2𝜀0 𝑎/ℏ propagating in a fluid is given by 𝜔2 = 𝛼𝑘 +
𝛽𝑘 3 where 𝛼 and 𝛽 are constants then the
(c)+4𝜀0 𝑎/ℏ (d)−4𝜀0 𝑎/ℏ phase velocity 𝑉𝑝 is equal to group velocity
𝑉g for 𝑘 equal to
25. A phonon is a collective vibration of atoms
in a crystal. A dispersion relation gives the 𝛼 2𝛼
angular frequency of the phonon 𝜔 and a (a)√ (b)√
2𝛽 𝛽
function of momentum of the phonon K .
Find the group velocity of phonons, where
disperse relation is given by 𝜔 = 𝛼 3𝛼
𝜔0 𝑎(sin 𝑘1 𝑎 + sin 𝑘2 𝑎 + sin 𝑘3 𝑎) at higher (c)√ (d)√
𝛽 𝛽
wave lengths
⃗ ⋅ 𝑟ˆ
(a)𝜔0 𝑎2 𝑘 (b)𝜔0 𝑎2 𝑘ˆ ⋅ 𝑟ˆ 30. The dispersion law for a certain type of
𝜔0 𝑎 2 wave motion is 𝜔 = (𝑐 2 𝑘 2 + 𝑚2 )1/2, where
(c) 𝑘ˆ ⋅ 𝑟ˆ ⃗ ⋅𝑟
(d)𝜔0 𝑎𝑘 𝜔 is the angular frequency, 𝑘 is the
√3
magnitude of the propagation vector and 𝑐
and 𝑚 are constants. The group velocity of
 these waves approaches [BHU 2012]
(a) infinity as 𝑘 → 0 and 𝑐 as 𝑘 → ∞. 35. The angular frequency 𝑤 of deep water
(b) 𝑐 as 𝑘 → 0 and zero as 𝑘 → ∞ wave varies as the inverse square root of
(c) zero as 𝑘 → 0 and infinity as 𝑘 → ∞
the wavelength 𝜆, ie. 𝜔(𝜆) ∝ 1/√𝜆. which of
(d) zero as 𝑘 → 0 and 𝑐 as 𝑘 → ∞
the following is the relation between its
group velocity 𝑣𝑔 and phase velocity 𝑉𝑝 ?
31. The phase velocity. of pressure waves 𝑣𝑝 is
related to the wave vector 𝑘 by 𝑣𝑝 = (a) 𝑣𝑔 = 𝑣𝑝 /2 (b) 𝑣𝑔 = 𝑣𝑝
𝐶𝑘 −1/2 . (C is a constant). The group velocity (c) 𝑣𝑔 = 2𝑣𝑝 (d) 𝑉𝑔 = 𝜆𝑣𝑝
is given by [HCU 2010]
𝑣𝑝 36. The dispersion relation for a certain type of
(a) (b) 2𝑣𝑝
2 excitation is given by 𝑤 = 𝐴k 𝑎 , where 𝐴 and
(c) 𝑘𝑣𝑝 (d) zero 𝑎 > 0 are constants. For these excitations,
the grout velocity is less than the phase
32. In a certain medium, the wave no. (k) & velocity when
frequency ( 𝜔 ) are related by the relation, (a) 𝑎 < 1 (b) 𝑎 = √2
𝜔2 = 𝑐 2 𝑘 2 (1 + 𝑎𝑘 2 ) (c) 𝑎 = 1 (d) 𝑎 ≥ 2
where 𝑐&𝑎 are constants if 𝑉𝑔 is the group
velocity & 𝑉𝑝 is the phase velocity then
(JEST)
ANSWER KEY
𝑣𝑝 (1 + 𝑎𝑘 2 )
(a)𝑉𝑔 = 𝑉𝑝 (a) = 1. d 2. d 3. c 4. c 5. a
𝑣𝑔 (1 + 2𝑎𝑘 2 )
6. b 7. a 8. a 9. c 10. b
11. d 12. d 13. a 14. 1.5 15. b
16. d 17. b 18. a 19. c 20. a
(c) 𝑣𝑔 𝑣𝑝 = 𝑐 2 (d) 𝑉𝑔 𝑉𝑝 = 𝑐 2 (1 + 2𝑎𝑘 2 ) 21. a 22. a 23. d 24. c 25. b
26. a 27. a 28. b 29. c 30. d
33. The phase velocity of traveling ocean 31. a 32. d 33. a 34. b 35. a
waves: 36. a

𝑔𝜆
𝑣𝑝 = √
2𝜋
The group velocity given by

𝑔𝜆 𝑔𝜆
(a) 𝑣𝑔 = √ (b) 𝑣𝑔 = √
8𝜋 𝜋

𝑔𝜆 𝑔𝜆
(c) 𝑣𝑔 = √ (d) 𝑣𝑔 = √
4𝜋 6𝜋

34. For a free electron gas in a metal, the

magnitude of phase velocity ( 𝑣𝑝 ) and
group velocity are such that

1
(a) 𝑣𝑝 = 𝑣𝑔 (b) 𝑉𝑝 = 2 𝑉𝑔
(c) 𝑣𝑝 = √2𝑣𝑔 (d) 𝑣𝑝 = 2𝑣𝑔