11.

2 Doppler Effect
11.2.1

Describe what is meant by the Doppler effect.

WA

WB

WC
A

behind source

11.2.2

WC WB WA
C
ahead of source

Explain the Doppler Effect by reference to wave front diagrams for

moving-detector and moving-source situations.

An observer is at rest with an emitter/source approaching:

At t = 0, the source emits a wave crest that arrives at the observer t seconds
later
At t = To the source emits a second wave crest, where To = period of the wave
When does the second crest arrive?
v = speed of the source
c = speed of the wave
T=0

d = vTo
1st wavefront
(at time t)

source

receiver

source

receiver

d = ct

11.2.3

d = ct

Apply the Doppler Effect equations for sound.

If moving away

c vobs

v
source

fobs fsource

If moving towards

c vobs

v
source

fobs fsource

11.2.4

Solve problems on the Doppler effect for sound.

1. A stationary siren has a frequency of 1000 Hz. What frequency will be heard
by car drivers moving at 15 ms -1 a) away and b) towards the siren? (956.4
Hz; 1043.6 Hz)
2. A police car with a 1000 Hz siren is moving at 15 ms -1. What frequency will
be heard by a stationary listener if the car is a) receding from, and b)
approaching the listener? (958.2 Hz; 1045.6 Hz)
3. A sound wave (300 Hz) is emitted towards a receding car. The wave is
reflected and is received back at the emitter at 280 Hz. What is the speed of
the car? (11.4 ms-1)

11.2.5

Solve problems on the Doppler effect for electromagnetic waves using the
approximation
f = (v/c)f
4. A particular radio signal from a galaxy is measured as having a frequency of
1.39x109 Hz. The same signal from a source in a laboratory has a frequency
of 1.42x109 Hz. Suggest why the galaxy is moving away from the Earth and
calculate its speed. (6.34x106 m/s; frequency is less, so moving away)
5. A galaxy is moving away from Earth with a speed of 0.05c. The wavelength
of a particular spectral line in light emitted by atomic hydrogen in a
laboratory is 6.56x10-7 m. Calculate the value of the wavelength of this line,
measured in the laboratory, in light emitted from a source of atomic hydrogen
in the galaxy.

11.2.6

Outline an example in which the Doppler effect is used to measure speed.

Blood-flow measurements
Measurements of vehicle speeds