Wave Packet Explorer

STEP 1: Add the first wave to the composite

To add the first wave select an amplitude and momentum by clicking on an appropriate place in the graph on the left side of the screen. A bar will appear to represent the amplitude (vertical axis) and the momenutm (horizontal axis).  The wave will appear in the lower windows on the left side. Becasue this wave is the first one, the "Composite wave" and "Wave Components" windows will show identical waves.

STEP 2: Add additional waves

To add more waves to the composite wave, select its momentum and amplitude by locating the cursor at the apporpriate place on the graph.  Click the left mouse button.  A line will indicate the values of the amplitude and momentum; the composite wave will show a change and the collection of all waves will have one more component.

STEP 3: Change the value of the momentum for an existing wave

The momentum of an existing wave can be changed by clicking on it and dragging it horizontally to a new value of momentum.  Release the left mouse button to leave the wave at its new value.

STEP 4: Change the value of the amplitude for an existing wave

The amplitude of an existing wave can be changed by clicking on it and dragging it vertically to a new value.  Release the left mouse button to leave the wave's amplitude at its new value.

STEP 5: Keep a composite wave

Keeping a composite wave stores it in the windows on the right side of the screen.  Click the keep button and the present composite wave will appear in the window.  You may now create a new composite wave and the kept wave will remain unchanged. You cannot add more waves to a kept composite wave.

STEP 6: Look at the wave form of an individual component

When you point at and click an individual component of a composite wave, the wave which is represented by this momentum and amplitude appears alone in the waves window at the bottom of the screen.