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Doppler Effect - Definition, Formula, Examples, Uses, FAQs
Doppler Effect - Definition, Formula, Examples, Uses, FAQs
Physics (/physics/) > Sound Waves (/physics/sound-waves/) > Doppler Effect (/physics/doppler-effect/)
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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. For
example, an ambulance crossing you with its siren blaring is a common physical demonstration of the Doppler Effect. In this article, let us
understand the intricacies of the Doppler effect in detail.
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2/26/24, 7:42 AM Doppler Effect - Definition, Formula, Examples, Uses, FAQs
Doppler
Class effect in physics
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MIN as the increase (or decrease) in the frequency of sound, light, or other waves as the source and observer
Revision
move program
towards (or away from) each other.
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Waves emitted by a source travelling towards an observer get compressed. In contrast, waves emitted by a source travelling away from an
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observer get stretched out. Christian Johann Doppler first proposed the Doppler Effect (Doppler Shift) in 1842.
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Doppler Effect Examples
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Let us imagine the following scenario:
Case 1: Two people A and B, are standing on the road, as shown below in the picture.
Which person hears the sound of the revving engine with a greater magnitude?
Person A hears the sound of the revving engine with a greater magnitude than person B. Person B, standing behind the car, receives fewer waves
per second (because they’re spread out), resulting in a low-pitched sound. But, person A who is in front of the car, receives more of those
soundwave ripples per second. As a result, the frequency of the waves is higher, which means the sound has a higher pitch.
Situation 1: How is the pattern of waves formed when you suddenly jump into a pond?
Situation 2: How is the pattern of waves formed when you are walking in a pond?
The image given below highlights the difference between wave patterns in both situations.
The difference in the wave pattern is due to the source’s movement in the second case. This is what the Doppler effect is. In the Doppler effect, the
frequency received by the observer is higher during the approach, identical when the relative positions are the same, and keeps lowering on the
recession of the source.
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In this video let’s see how relative motion between the source and the observer changes the frequency of sound waves giving
rise to the Doppler Effect.
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2/26/24, 7:42 AM Doppler Effect - Definition, Formula, Examples, Uses, FAQs
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Related Reading:
While there is only one Doppler effect equation, the above equation changes in different situations depending on the velocities of the observer or
the source of the sound. Let us see below how we can use the equation of the Doppler effect in different situations.
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2/26/24, 7:42 AM Doppler Effect - Definition, Formula, Examples, Uses, FAQs
(a) Source Moving Towards the Observer at Rest
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In this Revision
case, theprogram
observer’s velocity is zero, so V0 is equal to zero. Substituting this into the Doppler effect equation above, we get the equation of the
Doppler effect when a source is moving towards an observer at rest as:
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2/26/24, 7:42 AM Doppler Effect - Definition, Formula, Examples, Uses, FAQs
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Solution:
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The source and the observer are moving toward each other, hence.
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v+vo
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f = f ( 0)
v−vs
2. A bike rider approaching a vertical wall observes that the frequency of his bike horn changes from 440 Hz to 480 Hz when it gets reflected from
the wall. Find the speed of the bike if the speed of sound is 330 m/s.
Solution:
Simplifying, we get
′ v+u
f = ( )f0
v−u
480 v+u
= ( )
440 v−u
4
u = × 330 = 14.3 m/s
92
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Sirens
Radar
Astronomy
Medical Imaging
Satellite Communication
Vibration Measurement
Developmental Biology
Audio
The motion of both source and the observer should be along the same straight line.
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2/26/24, 7:42 AM Doppler Effect - Definition, Formula, Examples, Uses, FAQs
Red Shift and Blue Shift
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When the light source moves away from the observer, the frequency received by the observer will be less than the frequency transmitted by
the source. This causes a shift towards the red end of the visible light spectrum. Astronomers call it the redshift.
When the light source moves towards the observer, the frequency received by the observer will be greater than the frequency transmitted by
the source. This causes a shift towards the high-frequency end of the visible light (https://byjus.com/physics/visible-light/) spectrum.
Astronomers call it the blue shift.
The below video provides an in-depth analysis of Doppler Effect for JEE Advanced 2023
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Q2& Who discovered the Doppler Effect?
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Christian Johann Doppler, an Austrian mathematician and physicist discovered the Doppler effect in 1842.
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Q3 Can Doppler effect be observed in both longitudinal and transverse waves?
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Yes, Doppler
Revision effects can be observed for both types of waves. Doppler effect in sound (longitudinal waves) and the Doppler effect in light
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Q4 How can the Doppler Effect be applied to everyday life?
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A few daily life examples of the Doppler effect are: a) When you stand beside a police radar. b) The Doppler effect is used by meteorologists to
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track storms. c) Doctors use the Doppler Effect in hospitals to diagnose heart problems. d) Traffic police make use of the doppler effect a radar
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gun to check the speed of the oncoming vehicles.
Why is the Doppler Effect used in hospitals?
Doppler effect in hospitals is used to monitor blood flow. Blood clots are also detected with the Doppler effect.
Q6 How does the Doppler Effect prove that the universe is expanding?
The Doppler effect is evidence that the universe is expanding. Edwin Hubble used the Doppler effect to prove that the universe is expanding.
Hubble noticed that the light from distant galaxies was shifted toward lower frequencies to the red end of the spectrum. When stars or
galaxies are moving away from us, we see their colour as red-shifted.
Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!
Start Quiz
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