Final answer:
In a dispersion curve, the wave modes represent a relationship between velocity and frequency.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a dispersion curve, the wave modes represent a relationship between velocity and frequency.
A dispersion curve shows how the velocity of a wave varies with its frequency. Different wave modes will have different dispersion curves. The shape of the dispersion curve can provide important information about the medium through which the wave is traveling.
For example, in a dispersive medium like water, waves of different frequencies will travel at different speeds. This is why ocean waves break at different angles as they approach the shore. The shape of the dispersion curve for water waves can explain this behavior.