A dispersive medium is a medium in which waves of different frequencies travel at different velocities. With electromagnetic radiation, dispersion corresponds to a frequency-dependent variation in the index of refraction of the medium.

What is dispersive medium and non dispersive medium?

In a non-dispersive medium all of the different frequency components travel at the same speed so the wave function doesn't change at all as it travels. ... But now the medium is dispersive so that different frequency components travel at different speeds. Now the wave changes shape.

Is water a dispersive medium?

Water waves, in this context, are waves propagating on the water surface, with gravity and surface tension as the restoring forces. As a result, water with a free surface is generally considered to be a dispersive medium. ... Besides frequency dispersion, water waves also exhibit amplitude dispersion.