Honorato C. Perez, Sr.

Memorial Science High School

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July 6, 2009



phenomenon happened when a source of
sound and listener are in motion relative to
each other, the frequency of sound heard
by the listener is not the same as the
source frequency.
first described by Christian Doppler in the
19
th
century.
Copyright 2008 PresentationFx.com | Redistribution Prohibited | Image 2008 Thomas Brian | This text section may be deleted for presentation.

Resting sound source
source
at rest
observer
at rest
Frequency f
s

Frequency f
o

V=340m/s
Stationary Source
Stationary Source

c = f
=
c
f
Copyright 2008 PresentationFx.com | Redistribution Prohibited | Image 2008 Thomas Brian | This text section may be deleted for presentation.

A listener moving with a velocity v
L
toward a
stationary source S, the source S emits a sound
wave with frequency fs and wavelength, = v /
fs. The wave crest approaching the moving listener
have a speed of propagation relative to the listener
of (v + v
L
) . So the frequency f
L
with which the crest
arrive at the listeners position is
f
L
= v + v
L
/ = v + v
L
/ v / f
S

f
L
= ( v + v
L
/ v) f
S


A listener toward a source ( v
L
> 0)
hears a higher frequency than does a
stationary listener. A listener moving
away from the source ( v
L
< 0) hears a
lower frequency.


Sound source moving toward
observer
source

observer
at rest

Frequency f
s

Frequency f
o

o s
f f

Observer hears
increased pitch
(shorter wave length)
Sound source moving away
from observer
o s
f f
source

observer
at rest

Frequency f
s

Frequency f
o


Observer hears
decreased pitch
(longer wave length)
Moving Source and Moving Listener

= v / f
S
v
S
/ f
S
= v v
S
/ f
S

( wavelength in front of moving source)
= v / f
S
+ v
S
/ f = v + v
S
/ f
S

( wavelength behind a moving source)

In the region in front and behind the source wavelength
are compressed and stretched out respectively, by the
motion of the source.



To find the frequency heard by the listener
behind the source:
f
L
= ( v + v
L
/ v + v
S
) f
S


(Doppler effect, moving source and
moving listener)

We choose the positive direction (+)
for both vS and vL from the listener to
the source.
L S
The speed of sound v relative to the
medium is always positive.
Sample Problem
1. A police siren emits a sinusoidal wave with
frequency f
S
= 300 Hz. The speed of
sound is 340 m/s. a) Find the wavelength
of the waves if the siren is at rest in the
air. b) if the siren is moving at 30 m/s, find
the wavelengths of the waves ahead and
behind the source.
2. If a listener L is at rest and the
siren in ex.1 is moving away from L
at 30 m/s, what frequency does
the listener hear?
3. If the siren is at rest and the
listener is moving toward left at 30
m/s, what frequency does the
listener hear?
seatwork: An ambulance travelling at 18.0m/s emits
sound waves with frequency 400 Hz. The speed of
sound in air is 344m/s.
1. find the wavelength of the sound waves.
2.Calculate the frequency of the waves as
perceived by a man standing while the ambulance
is moving away from him. Make a sketch of the
situation
3. A girl standing at the side of street sees the
oncoming ambulance. What is the frequency of the
sound waves as perceived by the girl?
What is the frequency perceived by a passenger in a
ca moving behind the ambulance in the same
direction but a speed of 15 m/s?