Doppler Effect

A whistle of a train/ a siren of a police car appears to

increase in frequency as it moves towards a stationary
observer.
The
frequency change due to the relative motion

between a source of sound or light and an observer

is known as the Doppler effect.

When observer and source are both stationary, the number

of waves per second reaching the observer will be the same
frequency as the source.

Doppler Effect (Source is moving, Observer

Stationary)
When source move towards the
observer the effect is to shorten
the wavelength of the waves
reaching the observer.

Let v be the speed of sound in

air
A source sound has a frequency,
and wavelength

In the time of oscillation the

source move towards the
observer a distance (Hence
the wavelength is shortened
by this distance)

The source moves towards an

observer at a speed

Wavelength of the sound

received by the observer is

The period of oscillation of the

source of sound is

Doppler Effect (Source is moving, Observer

Stationary)
The source would move
away from a stationary
observer at position P on
the left-hand side.

The observed wavelengths

would lengthen.
Source sound moving toward
the observer
Hence the frequency observed

For a source sound moving

away from an observer the
observed frequency can be
shown to be

Doppler Effect (Source is moving, Observer

Stationary)
The frequency is increased
when the source moves
towards the observer and
the frequency is decreased
when the source moves
away from the observer.
The expressions apply only when the source of waves is sound
However, a change of frequency (Doppler shift) is observed with
all waves, including light.

Doppler Effect (Observer moving, Source

stationary)
Let v be the speed of sound
in
air
A source sound has a frequency,
and wavelength of source
The source speed
When moving to the source ,
observer moved a distance of t
in t seconds
Which gives additional
wavefronts =
Divide equation by t to get
additional wavefronts per
second
Hence frequency heard by
observer is increased to
=

Substituting into the

expression of , we obtain
=

When observer is moving

toward the stationary
source, the observed
frequency increases
When observer is moving
away from stationary
source, the observed
frequency decreases
So we would substitute to

Doppler Shift Equation

(General
Case)
Helpful
rules:
When both the source and
observer are in motion relative
to earth, the equation combined
would be
=
Signs of the velocity and
depend on the direction of the
velocity.
When observer move toward
the source, a positive speed is
substituted for
When observer move away from
the source, a negative speed is
substituted for
When source move toward the
observer, a positive speed is
substituted for
When source move away the

1. The word toward is

associated to increase in the
observed frequency
(smaller observed period
between the wave crest,
hence larger frequency)
2. The word away is
associated with a decrease
in observed frequency
(smaller observed
frequency, when observer is
moving away)

Question!
The
sound emitted from the siren of an
ambulance has a frequency of 1500Hz.
The speed of sound is Calculate the
difference in frequency heard by a
stationary observer as the ambulance
travels towards and then away from
the observer at a speed of

Question!
If
the siren is at rest and the listener is
moving away at 30, what frequency
does the listener hear?
Given the speed of sound is 340.

Question!
A
train moving at a speed of 40 sounds
its whistle, which has a frequency of
5.00Hz. Determine the frequency heard
by a stationary observer as the train
approaches the observer. Given the
speed of sound is 34

Question!
An
ambulance travels down a highway
at a speed of 33.5, its siren emitting
sound at frequency of 4.00Hz. What
frequency is heard by a passenger in a
car travelling at 24.6in the opposite
direction as the car ambulance
(a)Approach each other
(b)Pass and move away from each
other
Take the speed of sound in air to be

Question!
A
police car with its 300Hz siren is
moving toward a warehouse at 30,
intending to crash through the door.
What frequency does the driver of the
police car hear reflected from the
warehouse?
Given the speed of sound is 340.