DOPPLER EFFECT

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KEY CONCEPTS
DOPPLER EFFECT It is the apparent change in frequency of a wave motion, when there is relative
motion between the source and the observer

FREQUENCY The number of vibrations(waves) per second

WAVELENGTH The distance between two successive points in phase.

RED SHIFT Observed when light from an object increased in wavelength (decrease in
frequency) a red shift occurs when a light source moves away from an
observer.

BLUE SHIFT Observed when light from an object decreased in wavelength(increase in

frequency). A blueshift occurs when a light source moves towards an
observer.

Please note: the above definitions and laws should be memorised for examination/test
purposes, and they should be written exactly as they’ve been defined/stated above.
 DOPPLER EFFECT

An ambulance parked by the road with a siren of frequency 1000Hz, if you were standing by the road,
you would hear the same frequency of 1000Hz. But if there is relative motion between you (observer)
and the ambulance (source), either moving toward or away there will be a change in frequency. For
example, if the ambulance with a siren of 1000Hz is driving toward you, you will hear a frequency
greater than 1000Hz, whereas if it were driving away, you would hear a frequency less than 1000Hz
(figure 6.1). This result of the change in frequency because of relative motion is known as the Doppler
effect.

Figure 6.1
Frequency is the number of vibrations(waves) that pass a point per second. Unit for frequency is
Hertz (Hz). When speaking of sound, sometimes frequency is referred to as pitch(the amount of
degree of loudness of a sound wave.) for example, if an ambulance's siren has a higher frequency, it
has a higher pitch, and when there is a lower frequency, it has a lower pitch

Wavelength(𝜆) is the distance between two successive points in phase and it is measured in metres.
Speed v of the wave of frequency f and wavelength 𝜆 is given by.

𝑣 = 𝜆𝑓

At CONSTANT speed the frequency is inversely proportional to the wavelength.

𝑣
𝑓=𝜆

That is, if the frequency at constant speed is increased the wavelength will decrease and if the
frequency at a constant speed is decreased the wavelength will increase.

which explains why in figure 6.1 the frequency increased when the ambulance was moving toward the
observer, as it moves toward the sound waves get compressed and decrease the wavelength thus
there’s an increase in frequency. The opposite is also true when it was moving away.
 DOPPLER EFFECT

Doppler effect It is the apparent change in frequency of a wave motion, when there is relative motion
between the source and the observer

If either the observer or the source is moving, both are moving the emitted frequency and the
detected frequency are related by the general equation.

𝑣±𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = × 𝑓𝑠
𝑣±𝑣𝑠

Where v is the speed (≈ 340m ⋅ s −1 ) through the air, 𝑣𝐿 is the speed of the listener(observer) and
𝑣𝑠 is the speed of the source. 𝑓𝐿 is the frequency detected by the listener and 𝑓𝑠 is the frequency
emitted by the source.

For convenience choose the direction of the wave from the listener to the source as positive (figure
6.2) than the velocities has the following signs.

Source moves towards the listener 𝑣𝑠 : negative

Source moves away from the listener 𝑣𝑠 : positive

Figure 6.2

Listener moves toward from source 𝑣𝐿 : positive

Listener moves away from the source 𝑣𝐿 : negative

If both the source and the listener are stationary than 𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠

 EXAMPLE 6.1 MOVING SOURCE STATIONARYOBSERVER
FF

The siren of an ambulance emits sound of frequency 750Hz, moving at a speed of 25 m ⋅ s −1 . What
is the frequency detected by an observer standing by the side of the road when:

a. The ambulance is driving away from the observer.

b. The ambulance is driving toward the observer.

SOLUTION

𝑣±𝑣𝐿
a. 𝑓𝐿 = × 𝑓𝑠
𝑣±𝑣𝑠

340+0
𝑓𝐿 = × 750
340+25

𝒇𝑳 = 𝟔𝟗𝟖. 𝟔𝟑 𝑯𝒛

b.
𝑣±𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = × 𝑓𝑠
𝑣±𝑣𝑠

340+0
𝑓𝐿 = 340−25 × 750

𝒇𝑳 = 𝟖𝟎𝟗. 𝟓𝟐 𝑯𝒛

Critical thinking
As the ambulance moves toward the observer the sound waves get compressed thus the wavelength
decreases which result to an increase in frequency detected provided the speed is constant. When the
ambulance was moving away from the observer the sound waves are further apart thus the wavelength
increases which result to the decrease in frequency detected.
 EXAMPLE 6.2 MOVING OBSERVER STATIONARY SOURCE

What is the frequency heard by a person walking at 10 m ⋅ s −1 toward a school bell of 700 Hz?
Assuming that the speed of sound in air is 340 m ⋅ s −1.

SOLUTION

𝑣±𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = × 𝑓𝑠
𝑣±𝑣𝑠

340+10
𝑓𝐿 = × 700
340

𝑓𝐿 = 720.59 Hz

Critical thinking

The school bell is stationary that means it velocity is zero, as the person moves toward the bell the
waves get compressed- the wavelength get shorter. As expected, that why the person hears a
frequency greater than that emitted by the source.
 EXAMPLE 6.3 DOPPLER EFFECT [NSC 2017]
H
A police car moving at a constant velocity with its siren on, passes a stationary listener. The graph
below shows the changes in the frequency of the sound of the siren detected by the listener

A. Write down the frequency of the sound detected by the listener as the police car:
i. Approaches the listener.
ii. Moves away from the listener.

B. Calculate the speed of the police car. Take the speed of sound in air to be 340 m ⋅ s −1 .

SOLUTION

i. 170 Hz
ii. 130 Hz

B.
𝑣±𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑣±𝑣𝑠
× 𝑓𝑠

TOWARD
340
170 = 340−𝑣 × 𝑓𝑠 …………….. (1)
𝑠
 AWAY
340
130 = × 𝑓𝑠 …………….. (2)
340+𝑣𝑠

Making 𝑓𝑠 on both equations the subject of the formula and equate we have:

130( 340 + 𝑣𝑠 ) = 170( 340 - 𝑣𝑠 )

300𝑣𝑠 = 13600
𝑣𝑠 = 45.33 m ⋅ s −1
H

SYSTEMATIC APPROACH FOR PROBLEMS INVOLVING DOPPLER CALCULATIONS:

1. Read and understand the question.
2. Draw the picture of the situation/ scenario
3. Write down all the given values and unknown(s) on the picture
4. Copy the doppler general equation as it is
5. Substitute the values into the equation
6. Solve for the unknown value(s)

APPLICATIONS OF THE DOPPLER EFFECT

Medicine
Instrument: Doppler flow meter (figure 6.3)

Uses:
1. Used to measure the direction and speed of blood in arteries and veins
2. Used to monitor the heartbeat of a newly formed foetus.

Figure 6.3

Light

1. Red shift - Observed when light from an object increased in wavelength (decrease in
frequency) a red shift occurs when a light source moves away from an observer.

2. Blue shift- Observed when light from an object decreased in wavelength(increase in

frequency). A blueshift occurs when a light source moves towards an observer.