DOPPLER EFFECT

Total number of questions in this chapter are :

(i) In chapter Examples ....................... 04

(ii) Solved Examples ....................... 09

Total no. of questions ....................... 13

1. INTRODUCTION 5. APPARENT FREQUENCY OF SOUND HEARD BY
THE OBSERVER WHEN SOURCE IS IN MOTION
The apparent change in frequency or wavelength
AND OBSERVER IS AT REST.
observed by the observer when there is a relative
motion between the source and the observer, is (1) When source is in motion and observer is at
known as Doppler Effect. rest then the cause of apparent change in
Doppler's effect takes place both in sound and frequency is that the waves either contract
light. In sound it depends on whether the source or expand.
or observer or both are in motion, while in light (i) When source moves towards the observer:
it depends only on the fact that whether the wavelength decreases. Apparent frequency
distance between source and observer is decreas- is given by
ing or increasing. Source of sound Observer
Vs
2. CONDITIONS WHEN DOPPLER EFFECT IS n  n'
OBSERVED FOR SOUND WAVES S O
Moving Stationary
(a) When the source of sound is in motion and
the observer at rest. v
n' = n
(b) When the observer is in motion and the source (v  v s )
at rest  v – vs < v  n' > n
(c) When the source and the observer are moving
(ii) When source moves away from the
with unequal velocities.
observer : wavelength increases.
(d) When the source and the observer and
Apparent frequency is given by
intervening medium are in motion.
Source of sound Observer
3. LIMITATIONS OF DOPPLER EFFECT IN SOUND Vs
 n n'
(a) The velocity of source of sound must be less
than that of sound i.e. v s < v S O
Moving Stationary
(b) The velocity of observer must be less than
the velocity of sound i.e. v 0 < v v
(c) If the velocity of sound source is greater than n' = n
v  vs
that of sound then due to shock waves the
wavefront gets distorted, consequently the
 (v + v s) > v  n' < n
change in frequency will not be observed by (v  v s )
the observer. Apparent wavelength ' = 
v
4. CONDITIONS WHEN DOPPLER EFFECT IS NOT  (v + v s) > v  ' > 
OBSERVED FOR SOUND WAVES Ex.1 A jet plane emits sound with a frequency
(a) When the source of sound and the observer 990 cycles/sec and carries on board a source
of light emitting radiation of wavelength
both are at rest then Doppler effect in sound
is not observed. 4500 Å. If the jet plane approaches the airport
with a velocity 1080 km/hr, find,
(b) When the source and the observer both are
(i) the frequency of sound heard by the
moving with same velocity in same direction.
observer on airport. (Velocity of sound
(c) When the source and the observer are moving
v = 330m/s, velocity of light c = 3 × 108m/s)
mutually in perpendicular directions.
(A) 10890 cycles/sec
(d) When the medium only is moving
(B) 18090 cycles/sec
(e) When the distance between the source and
(C) 10980 cycles/sec
the observer is constant.
(D) 10089 cycles/sec.
Sol. The source is approaching the observer, Ex.2 W ith what velocity should an observer
therefore the observed frequency, approach a stationary sound source so that
the apparent frequency of sound should
v appear double the initial frequency ?
n' = v  v n
s
v
Given v = 330m/s,vs = 1080 km/hr = 300m/s, (A) v 0 = (B) v 0 = 3v
2
n = 900 sec-1 (C) v 0 = 2v (D) v 0 = v
330 cycles Sol. n' = 2n, v 0 = ? ........ (1)
 n' = × 990 = 10890
330  300 sec [v  v 0 ]
Apparent wavelength is given by n' = n ......... (2)
v
(v  v s ) From equation (1) & (2)
' = 
v [v  v 0 ]
2n = n
 v – vs < v   ' <  v
2v = v + v 0  v0 = v
6. APPARENT FREQUENCY OF SOUND HEARD
BY THE OBSERVER WHEN THE SOURCE IS 7. APPARENT FREQUENCY HEARD BY THE
AT REST AND THE OBSERVER IS IN MOTION. OBSERVER WHEN BOTH SOURCE & OBSERVER
ARE MOVING.
(i) When the observer approaches the
source: then frequency increases. (i) When both moves towards each other

 v  v0   v  vs 
[v  v 0 ] n' = n  v  v  & ' =   
n' = n  s   v  v0 
v
n' > n & ' < 
 v + v0 > v  n' > n
v (ii) When both moves away from each other
' = 
[v  v 0 ]
 v + v0 > v   ' < 
(ii) When the observer moves away from the
source: then frequency decreases.
 v  v0   v  vs 
n' = n   & ' =   
 v  vs   v  v0 
n' < n & ' > 

(iii) When the source is approaching the

receding observer
[v  v 0 ]
n' = n
v
 v – v0 < v  n' < n
v
' =   v  v0   v  vs 
[v  v 0 ] n' = n  v  v  & ' =   v  v 
 s   0
 v – v0 < v   ' > 
 (iv) When the observer is approaching the Sol. If the original frequency of the source is ,
receding source. the apparent frequency heard by the observer
is
  0
    ’ = 
  s

 v  v0   v  vs  350  10
n' = n  v  v  & ' =   v  v  1950 = 
 s   0
340  10
Note :- 35
  = × 1950 = 2070 Hz
(A) If the medium is moving with velocity v m in 33
the direction of sound then the velocity of
sound becomes (v + v m) 8. APPARENT CHANGE FREQUENCY HEARD BY
THE OBSERVER
(i) When observer crosses the stationary
source.

 v  v0   v  v0 
(B) If the medium is moving with velocity v m in a n’ = n   n’’ = n  v 
direction opposite to that of sound, then the  v   
velocity of sound becomes (v- v m). 2nv 0
n = n’ - n” =
v
(ii) When moving source crosses a stationary
observer.
(C) In all the above formulae v will have to be nv nv
replaced by (v ± v m) according to situation n’ = (v  v ) , n" = ( v  v )
0 s
given.
Ex.3 If a sound source of frequency n approaches 2nv 0
n = n’ - n’’ =
an observer with velocity v/4 and the observer  v 2s 
approaches the source with velocity v/5 then 1  2 
 v 
the apparent frequency heard will be -
5 8 7 5 2nv s   vs  
(A)
8
n (B) n (C)
5
n (D) n n =     1
5 7 v   v  
v v
Sol. vs = , v0 =
4 5 9. DOPPLER’S EFFECT IN LIGHT
[v  v 0 ]
n' = n {s   0} The velocity of light in free space is independent
[v  v s ]
of the motion of source or observer and it is a
 v universal constant given as c = 3 x 10 8m/s.
v  5  6 4 8 Thus the doppler’s effect in light depends only
n' = n   n' = n    = n upon the relative motion of the light source and
v  v   5 3  5
 4  the observer and it does not matter which one is
moving.
Ex.4 A source and a detector move away from
(i) When a light source and an observer are
each other, each with a speed of 10m/s with
approaching each other with a velocity v, then
respect to the ground with no wind. If the
the apparent frequency of light will be .
detector detects a frequency 1950Hz of the
sound coming from the source, what is the ’ = 
original frequency of the source? Speed of and ’ =  (1 – v/c) if v < < c
sound in air = 340m/s or =   v/c
(A) 2700Hz (B) 2007Hz Case (a) When the light source is going away
(C) 2070Hz (D) 2170Hz from the earth then
  =  
’ <  and  =  or ’ >  i.e.  is
increased or spectral line will shift towards
the red end of the spectrum. This is known
as red shift.
Case (b) When the light source is coming
nearer to earth.
10. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOPPLER EFFECT IN SOUND AND LIGHT
S.No. Doppler effect in sound
1 This effect depends upon whether the source
the is in motion or the observer is in motion
2. The velocity of medium affects the apparent
frequency.
3. Ordinary law of addition of velocities is
applicable in this
4. Transverse Doppler effect is not applicable
in this
11. APPLICATION OF DOPPLER EFFECT
(1) To determine the width of spectral lines (W).
(2) To determine the velocity of stars and galaxies.
(3) To determine the frequency of a tuning fork.
(4) To determine the speed of rotation of sun.
(5) In the discovery of Saturn rings.
(6) In the discovery of twin stars.
(7) In E.C.G.
(8) In very high frequency unidirectional radio
ranging (V.O.R.)
(9) In tracking of artificial satellites.
(10)In RADAR
(11) In SONAR.
12. POINTS TO REMEMBER
(1) Doppler effect is valid for all types of waves
because this is a universal property of
waves.
(2) Doppler effect in light is explained on the
basis of Einstein's theory of relativity.
(3) Transverse Doppler effect.When the source
is moving at right angle to the observer or
 =  or ’ > 
and  = – or ’ < 
 wavelength appears to be decreasing i.e.
the spectral line in electromagnetic spectrum
gets displaced towards violet end, hence it
is known as violet shift.
Doppler effect in light
This effect depends upon the relative motion between
source and the observer and not on the motion of the
observer or the source.
The velocity of medium does not contribute to this
effect frequency
Law of addition of velocities of relativistic mechanics
is applicable in this.
Transverse Doppler effect is applicable in this.
the observer is moving at right angles to
the source, then the apparent change in
the frequency of light source is known as
transverse Doppler effect.
(4) The wavelength observed in front of a
source is less and that observed behind
the source is more.
(5) Pitch is that feeling which produces a
sensation of sound being sharp or thick.
(6) Doppler effect of sound not only depends
on the relative motion between the sound
source and the observer, but also depends
upon whether the source is moving or the
observer is moving.
(7) Direction of sound is always taken from
the source towards the observer.
(8) Doppler effect in sound is used in estimat-
ing the velocity of an aeroplane in air.
(9) Doppler effect in light can be used to es-
timate the speed of stars and galaxies.
(10) The velocity of a submarine moving under
water can also be detected by observing
the changes in frequency of the sound
waves sent to the submarine and reflected
by it.
(11) If velocity of source of sound is greater
than that of sound. (i.e. v s > v), then the
source will overtake the sound waves and
under this condition Doppler's effect will
not be observed.
(12) If velocity of observer is greater than the
velocity of sound i.e. v 0 > v, it means ob-
server is receding away from the source
the wave will never reach the observer and
consequently Doppler effect will not be
observed.
(13) The width of a spectral line can also be
explained from the Doppler's effect. This
width is given by 2 = 2(v/c).
(14) When the source (s) and the observer (O)
are approaching each other then n' > n. &
' < 
(15) When S and O are receding away from
each other then n' < n & ' > .
(16) When S and O are moving in the same
direction with same speed then n' = n &
' = .
(17)  depends upon
(a) velocity of source
(b) velocity of observer
(c) frequency
(d) wavelength.
 SOLVED EXAMPLE
Ex.1 The frequency of whistle of an engine appears vs
Sol.  = 
th c
4
to be   of initial frequency when it  vs
5 =
 c
crosses a stationary observer.I the velocity
of sound is 330m/s, then the speed of engine  vs
× 100 = × 100
will be :  c
(A) 30m/s (B) 36.6m/s
(C) 40m/s (D) 330m/s. Given × 100 = 0.4, vs = ?, c = 3 × 108m/s
nv
Sol n' = ......... (1) 330  10 3
v  vs
n ' = = 1031.25 Hz.
nv 330 10
n'' = ......... (2) Ex.4 A train approaching a hill at a speed of 40km/hr
v  vs
From (1) & (2) sounds a whistle of frequency 580Hz when it
is at a distance of 1km from a hill. A wind
n' v  vs
= ..........(3) with a speed of 40km/hr is blowing in the
n' ' v  vs direction of motion of the train. Find the
n' 5 frequency of the whistle as heard by an
According to question =
n' ' 4 observer on the hill.
v s = ?, v = 330m/s ........(4) (velocity of sound in air = 1200km/hr)
From eq. (3) & (4) (A) 580Hz (B) 620Hz
 330  v s  (C) 600Hz (D) 720Hz
5
=  330  v  Sol. According to Doppler's effect, the apparent
4  s
frequency when both source and observer
9v s = 330  v s = 36.6m/s move along the same direction is
Ex.2 Two sirens, situated at a distance of 1km, (v  w )  v 0
are emitting sound of frequency 330 Hz. An n' = (v  w )  v
s
observer is moving from one siren towards
another with a velocity of 2m/s. The beat Velocity of observer v 0 = 0
frequency heard by the observer will be (v  w )
(v = 330m/s)  n ' = n
v  w  vs
v  v 0 
Sol. n' = n Given v = 1200 km/hr, w = 40km/hr,
v
v s = 40km/hr. and n = 580Hz
v  v 0 
n'' = n
v 120040
 n' = × 580 = 599.33Hz
2nv 0 (1200  40)  40
n = n' - n'' =
v = 600Hz
Given n = 330Hz, v 0 = 2m/s , v = 330m/s Ex.5 A table is rotating about its axis with angular
2  330  2 speed 5 rev/sec. A source of sound of
n =
330
= 4. frequency 1000 sec-1 is fixed on the table at
a distance 0.70m from the axis. What are
Ex.3 The wavelength of light received from a milky the maximum and minimum frequency heard
way is 0.4% higher than that from the same by listener at rest at a certain distance from
source on earth. The velocity of milky way the table? The speed of sound at room
with respect to earth will be - temperature is 352m/s.
(A) 5 × 106 m/s (B) 1.2 × 106m/s (A) 966Hz, 941Hz (B) 1250Hz, 1052Hz
6
(3) 0.2 × 10 m/s (4) 2 × 106 m/s (C) 1000Hz, 960Hz (D) 1066Hz, 941Hz.
Sol. Speed of source v s = r = r 2n Ex.8 A siren is fitted on a car going towards a
22 vertical wall at a speed of 36km/hr A person
v s = 0.70 × 2 × × 5 = 22m/s. standing on the ground, behind the car,
7
listens to the siren sound coming directly
Maximum frequency when the source is
from the source as well as that coming after
approaching the listener
reflection from the wall. Calculate the apparent
v 352 frequency of the wave (a) coming directly from
n1 = v  v n = × 1000 the siren to the person and (b) coming after
s 352  22
reflection. Take the speed of sound to be
 n1 = 1066 Hz
340m/s.
Minimum frequency when the source is
receding the listener (A) 515Hz, 486Hz (B) 486Hz, 515Hz
(C) 510Hz, 490Hz (D) 490Hz,510Hz
v 352 Sol. Here the observer is at rest with respect to
n2 = n= ×1000 = 941Hz. the medium and the source is going away
v  vs 352 22
from the observer. The apparent frequency
Ex.6 A source of sound of frequency 256Hz is heard by the observer is, therefore,
moving rapidly towards a wall with a velocity
of 5m/s. How many beats per second will be v 340
heard if sound travels at a speed of 330 m/s ' = v  v  = × 500Hz
s 340  10
by an observer behind the source. ' = 486Hz
(A) 7.7 (B) 0 (b) The frequency received by the wall is
(C) 7.8 (D) None
v 340
Sol. When the source S is between the wall (W) '' = v  v  = × 500 = 515 Hz
and the observer (O) For direct sound the s 340  10
source is moving away from the observer, The wall reflects this sound without changing
therefore the apparent frequency the frequency. Thus, the frequency of the
reflected wave as heard by the ground
v 330 observer is 515 Hz
n" = v  v n = × 256
s 330  5 Ex.9 Two trains are moving towards each other at
n" = 252.2Hz speeds of 72km/hr and 54km/hr relative to
the ground. The first train sounds a whistle of
and frequency of reflected sound frequency 600Hz. Find the frequency of the
v 330 whistle as heard by a passenger in the second
n' = v  v n = × 256 = 259.9 train.
s 330 5
Number of beats/sec = n' – n" (a) before the trains meet and
= 259.9– 252.2 = 7.7 (b) after the trains have crossed each other
Ex.7 A person going away from a factory on his The speed of sound in air is 340m/s.
scooter at a speed of 36km/hr listens to the (A) 666Hz, 542Hz (B) 508Hz, 662Hz
siren of the factory. If the main frequency of (C) 662Hz, 508Hz (D) None
the siren is 600Hz and a wind is blowing Sol. The speed of the first train 72km/hr = 20m/s.
along the direction of the scooter at 36km/hr and that of the second = 54km/hr = 15m/s
Find the main frequency as heard by the (a) Here both the source and the observer
person. move with respect to the medium. Before the
Sol. The speed of sound in still air is 340m/s. Let trains meet, the source is going towards the
us work from the frame of reference of the observer and the observer is also going
air. As both the observer and the wind are towards the source. The apparent frequency
moving at the same speed along the same heard by the observer will be
direction with respect to the ground, the
v  v0 340 15
observer is at rest with respect to the medium. ' = = × 600 = 666Hz
The source is moving with respect to the v  vs 340 20
wind at a speed of 36km/hr. i.e. 10m/s. As (b) After the trains have crossed each other,
the source is going away from the observer the source goes away from the observer and
who is at rest with respect to the medium, the observer goes away from the source. The
the frequency heard is frequency heard by the observer is, therefore.
v 340 v  v0 340 15
' = v  v = 340  10 × 600 = 583Hz. " = v  v  = 340 20 600 = 542Hz.
s s