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Government Recognition No:
PRE-ELEM: 04 S. 2017, ELEMENTARY: 5, S. 2017, JHS: 06, S.2017, SHS: 059 S.2018
Subject: GENERAL PHYSICS 1 Quarter: FINAL
Topic: Introduction to Doppler Effect for Sound
Week: 11 Notes: 11
Definition of Doppler Effect
Doppler effect or Doppler shift is a phenomenon that is observed whenever the source of waves is
moving with respect to an observer. An ambulance crossing you with
its siren blaring is a common physical demonstration of the Doppler
Effect.
It is named after the Austrian physicist Christian Doppler, who
described the phenomenon in 1842.
Christian Johann Doppler, an Austrian mathematician and physicist
discovered the Doppler effect in 1842.
A common example of Doppler shift is the change of pitch heard when
a vehicle sounding a horn approaches and recedes from an observer.
Compared to the emitted frequency, the received frequency is higher
during the approach, identical at the instant of passing by, and lower
during the recession.
The reason for the Doppler effect is that when the source of the
waves is moving towards the observer, each successive wave crest is emitted from a position closer to
the observer than the crest of the previous wave.
Therefore, each wave takes slightly less time to reach the observer than the previous wave. The time
between the arrivals of successive wave crests at the observer is reduced, causing an increase in the
frequency. While they are traveling, the distance between successive wave fronts is reduced, so the
waves "bunch together".
Doppler Effect Explained
Doppler effect is an important phenomenon that is useful in a variety of different scientific disciplines,
including planetary science. The Doppler effect or the Doppler shift describes the changes in the
frequency of any kind of sound or light wave produced by a moving source with respect to an observer.
Doppler effect in physics is defined as the increase (or decrease) in the frequency of sound, light, or
other waves as the source and observer move towards (or away from) each other.
Waves emitted by a source travelling towards an observer gets compressed. In contrast, waves emitted
by a source travelling away from an observer get stretched out. Doppler Effect (Doppler Shift) was first
proposed by Christian Johann Doppler in 1842.
Doppler Effect Formulas
Doppler effect is the apparent change in the frequency of waves due to the relative motion between
the source of the sound and the observer. We can deduce the apparent frequency in Doppler effect
using the following equation:

Uses of Doppler Effect

Many mistakes the Doppler effect to be applicable only for sound waves. It works with all types of
waves including light. Below, we have listed a few applications of the doppler effect:
• Sirens
• Radar
• Astronomy
• Medical Imaging
• Blood Flow Measurement
• Satellite Communication
• Vibration Measurement
• Developmental Biology
• Audio
• Velocity Profile Measurement

Doppler Effect Limitations

• Doppler Effect is applicable only when the velocities of the source of the sound and the
observer are much less than the velocity of sound.
• The motion of both source and the observer should be along the same straight line.

Doppler Effect in Light

Doppler effect of light can be described as the apparent change in the frequency of the light observed
by the observer due to relative motion between the source of light and the observer. For sound
waves, however, the equations for the Doppler shift differ markedly depending on whether it is the
source, the observer, or the air, which is moving. Light requires no medium, and the Doppler shift for
light travelling in a vacuum depends only on the relative speed of the observer and source
Video:

Title: Introduction to Doppler Effect

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToSMEnqlTaE