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In physics, group velocity refers to the speed at which a specific characteristic of a composite wave train advances through a medium. This is distinct from phase velocity, which is the speed of a wave's motion determined by its wavelength and frequency.12

Dispersion occurs when waves travel at different velocities depending on their wavelengths. For instance, in deep water, ocean waves move at speeds related to the square root of their wavelengths. In such cases, the group velocity, which represents the speed of wave energy propagation, can differ from the phase velocity. For deep-water waves, the group velocity is half the phase speed.34

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