THE DOPPLER

EFFECT
Doppler Effect refers to the change in wave frequency
during the relative motion between a wave source and
its observer. It was discovered by Christian Johann
Doppler who described it as the process of increase or
decrease of starlight that depends on the relative
movement of the star.
 Example
A source is emitting sound waves.
This source is stationary and as you
can see, the wave will be received at
the same frequency to any observer
a certain distance
 Example
When the source starts moving,
there will now be compression of
the waves in the direction of motion
reducing the wavelength of the
waves reaching the observer
 Since we know that wavelength is the
distance between consecutive peaks of a
wave and the period of oscillation of the
source (T) is
 The formula for the observed
frequency of waves moving towards
an observer (fo) is
 The formula for the observed
frequency of waves moving away
from an observer (fo) is
 Example
A police car travels towards a
stationary observer at a speed of
15ms−1. The siren on the car emits
a sound of frequency 250 Hz.
Calculate the observed frequency.
The speed of sound is 340ms−1
Example
fo =
Example
fo =
Example
fo = 260Hz
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU