Doppler Effect

Created by :
Kristine Cheung
(#33822131)
L2D-BLUE
 Concept

A tone is not always heard at the same frequency at

which it is emitted.
When a train sounds its horn as it passes by, the pitch
of the horn changes from high to low. Any time there is
relative motion between the source of a sound and the
receiver of it, there is a difference between the actual
frequency and the observed frequency.

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Example of
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Doppler Effect :
the sound
 Doppler Equation

 f r= frequency as heard by a
listener
v  vr  f S = frequency produced by
fr = fS ( v  vS ) the source
 v = speed of sound in the
medium
 vr = speed of the listener
 v S = speed of the source
 Understanding the Equation

 This equation incorporates speed

of the source of the sound, as well
as the listener’s speed, relative to
v  vr the air and/or medium
fr = fS ( v  vS )  Note the signs :
1) If the source is moving toward
the listener, this will increase f L
(plus sign in the numerator)
2) If the listener is moving away
from the source this will decrease
f L (plus in the denominator)
Application of Concept ( Scenario 1)
The horn is producing a pure 1000 Hz tone. Let’s find the
frequency as heard by the listener in various motion scenarios.
The speed of sound in air at 20 C is 343 m/s.
343
fr = 1000 (
343 - 10 )
10 m/s still

343 + 10
f r = 1000 ( 343 )
10 m/s
10 m/s
 Application of Concept ( Scenario 2)
The horn is still producing a pure 1000 Hz tone. This time both the
source and the listener are moving with respect to the air.

fr = 1000 ( 343 - 3
343 - 10
)
10 m/s 3 m/s
= 1021 Hz

343 + 3
fr = 1000 ( 343 - 10
)
10 m/s
3 m/s = 1039 Hz

Note : a greater frequency is heard as the person is moving towards the sound
source compared to the person moving away from the sound source
 Doppler Problem

Bob & Jill are heading toward each other. Bob drives at
21 m/s and toots his . His horn sounds at 650 Hz. How
fast should Jill drive so that she hears the horn at 750
Hz? Assume the speed of sound is 343 m/s.

vr
21 m/s
 Solution

Using this equation :

v  vr
fr = fS ( v  vS )
Put in the information given :

v  vr
750 =650 ( v  vS ) vr = 28.5 m/s