Doppler Effect

You hear the high pitch of the siren of the approaching ambulance, and notice that its pitch drops suddenly as the ambulance passes you. That is called the Doppler effect.

DiscussionCalculation of wavelengthCalculation of frequency
Police RADAR as an example of the Doppler effect
Ultrasonic Doppler pulse probes
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Doppler Effect

When a vehicle with a siren passes you, a noticeable drop in the pitch of the sound of the siren will be observed as the vehicle passes. This is an example of the Doppler effect. An approaching source moves closer during period of the sound wave so the effective wavelength is shortened, giving a higher pitch since the velocity of the wave is unchanged. Similarly the pitch of a receding sound source will be lowered.

DerivationCalculation of wavelengthCalculation of frequencyDoppler effect for light
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Traveling wave concepts

Doppler concepts
 
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Doppler Wavelength Change

The speed of sound is determined by the medium in which it is traveling, and therefore is the same for a moving source. But the frequency and wavelength are changed. The wavelengths for a moving source are given by the relationships below. It is sometimes convenient to express the change in wavelength as a fraction of the source wavelength for a stationary source:

DerivationCalculation of wavelengthCalculation of frequencyDoppler effect for light
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Traveling wave concepts

Doppler concepts
 
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Doppler Effect Frequency Calculation

At temperature C = F

the sound speed in air is m/s.

If the source frequency is Hz

and the velocity of the source is m/s = mi/hr

then for an approaching source the frequency is Hz

and for a receding source the frequency is Hz.

Note: The frequency will default to A4 (440 Hz) and the temperature will default to 20 C if those values are not entered. Any parameters can be changed.
DerivationCalculation of wavelengthDoppler effect for light
Index

Traveling wave concepts

Doppler concepts
 
HyperPhysics***** Sound R Nave
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