propagation

(verb)

The dissemination of something to a larger area or greater number.

Related Terms

Examples of propagation in the following topics:

  • Synthesis of Addition Polymers

    • Radical Polymerization The initiator is a radical, and the propagating site of reactivity (*) is a carbon radical.
    • Cationic Polymerization The initiator is an acid, and the propagating site of reactivity (*) is a carbocation.
    • Anionic Polymerization The initiator is a nucleophile, and the propagating site of reactivity (*) is a carbanion.
    • Coordination Catalytic Polymerization The initiator is a transition metal complex, and the propagating site of reactivity (*) is a terminal catalytic complex.

  • Longitudinal Waves

    • Longitudinal waves, sometimes called compression waves, oscillate in the direction of propagation.
    • The difference is that each particle which makes up the medium through which a longitudinal wave propagates oscillates along the axis of propagation.
    • The wave propagates in the same direction of oscillation.

  • The Action Potential and Propagation

    • The principal way neurons send signals over long distance is by generating and propagating action potentials over excitable axonal membrane.
    • The propagation of action potential is independent of of stimulus strength, but is dependent on refractory periods.

  • Transverse Waves

    • Transverse waves propagate through media with a speed $\vec{v}_w$ orthogonally to the direction of energy transfer.
    • For transverse waves in matter, the displacement of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
    • Transverse waves are waves that are oscillating perpendicularly to the direction of propagation.
    • The speed at which the wave propagates is denoted and can be found using the following formula:
    • The direction of propagation of this wave is along the t axis.

  • Waves

    • A sea wave is an example of a wave in which water molecules are moving up and down as waves propagate towards the shore.
    • As the waves propagate (i.e., travel) towards the shore, the ball will not come towards the shore.
    • A wave only moves mass perpendicular to the direction of propagation—in this case up and down, as illustrated in the figure below:
    • Longitudinal waves occur when the oscillations are parallel to the direction of propagation.
    • We notice that while it moves up and down it does not move in the direction of the wave's propagation.

  • Water Waves

    • Although we often observe water wave propagating in 2D , in this atom we will limit our discussion to 1D propagation.
    • As long as the waves propagate slower than the wind speed just above the waves, there is an energy transfer from the wind to the waves.
    • When waves propagate in shallow water (where the depth is less than half the wavelength), the particle trajectories are compressed into ellipses.
    • In deep water, longer-period waves propagate faster and transport their energy faster.
    • We see a wave propagating in the direction of the phase velocity.

  • Energy Transportation

    • The force you feel from a wave hitting you at the beach is an example of work being done and, thus, energy being transfered by a wave in the direction of the wave's propagation.
    • Waves carry energy along an axis defined to be the direction of propagation.
    • Electromagnetic waves can be imagined as a self-propagating transverse oscillating wave of electric and magnetic fields .
    • Electromagnetic waves can be imagined as a self-propagating transverse oscillating wave of electric and magnetic fields.
    • This 3D diagram shows a plane linearly polarized wave propagating from left to right.

  • Air Wedge

    • An air wedge is a simple interferometer used to visualize the disturbance of the wave front after propagation through a test object.
    • An air wedge is one of the simplest designs of shearing interferometers used to visualize the disturbance of the wave front after propagation through a test object.

  • Standing Waves and Resonance

    • A standing wave is one in which two waves superimpose to produce a wave that varies in amplitude but does not propagate.
    • Standing waves on strings have a frequency that is related to the propagation speed vw of the disturbance on the string.
    • A standing wave (black) depicted as the sum of two propagating waves traveling in opposite directions (red and blue).

  • A Physical Aside: Multipole Radiation

    • The propagation of electromagnetic waves from a source traveling slower and faster than the speed of light in the medium.