Moving Observer

The Doppler effect is the apparent change in frequency of a wave when the observer and the source of the wave move relative to each other.

In this atom, we are going to cover the Doppler effect, but specifically when the observer is the one in motion.

When the observer moves toward an sound source, each successive wave is encountered sooner than the previous wave. Thus, it will take just a little less time for the observer to hear the next one. Since the time between waves is reduced, the frequency is increased. Similarly if the observer is moving away from the sound source, the frequency, and therefor pitch, is decreased. While the frequency will change whether the observer or sound source is moving, it is easier to show with the sound source as the one moving. This figure demonstrated the sound source moving:

Unless the observer is moving directly towards the sound source, this angle needs to be taken into account when calculating the newly perceived frequency. Before we can start this calculation, we must know:

• The original sound wave frequency, f₀
• The velocity of the observer, v_r
• The speed of sound in the air, or medium, c
• The angle of the line of sight from the observer to the sound source, [latex]\theta[/latex]

Although the sound waves are being emitted from the sound source at a uniform frequency, the observer is perceiving them differently. The equation for the perceived wave frequency is as follows: [latex]\text{f}=\frac{\text{c}{\pm}\text{v}_{\text{r},\text{new}}}{\text{c}}*\text{f}_0[/latex]And the equation for v_r, is: [latex]\text{v}_{\text{r},\text{new}}=\text{v}_\text{r}*\text{cos}\theta[/latex]If the observer is moving towards the sound source, you are going to use a plus sign in front of the observers velocity. If the observer is moving away from sound source, you are going to use a negative sign in front of the observers velocity.

Moving Source

The Doppler effect is the apparent change in frequency of a wave when the observer and the source of the wave move relative to each other.

The Doppler Effect —When the Sound Source is in Motion

When the sound source moves toward an observer, each successive wave is emitted closer to the observer than the previous wave and takes just a little less time to reach the observer than the previous one. Since the time between waves is reduced, the frequency is increased. Similarly, if the sound source is moving away from the observer, the frequency (and therefore pitch) is decreased. While the frequency will change whether the observer or sound source is moving, the effect is more easily demonstrated by the sound source. This Doppler Effect is illustrated in.

Unless the observer is moving directly towards the sound source, this angle must be considered when calculating the newly perceived frequency. Before attempting this calculation, we must know:

• The original sound wave frequency, f₀
• The velocity of the observer, v_r
• The speed of sound in the air, or medium, c
• The angle of the line of sight from the observer to the sound source, [latex]\theta[/latex]

Although the sound waves are being emitted from the sound source at a uniform frequency, the observer is perceiving them differently. The equation for the perceived wave frequency is as follows: [latex]\text{f}=\frac{\text{c}}{\text{c}{\pm}\text{v}_{\text{s},\text{new}}}*\text{f}_0[/latex]And the equation for v_s, is:
[latex]\text{v}_{\text{s},\text{new}}=\text{v}_\text{s}*\text{cos}\theta[/latex]

If the sound source is moving towards the observer, a plus sign is used in front of the sound source’s velocity. If the sound source is moving away from the observer, then a negative sign is used in front of the sound source’s velocity.

General Case

The Doppler effect is the apparent change in frequency of a wave when the observer and the source of the wave move relative to each other.

Have you ever wondered why as a firetruck speeds by, the sound of the siren seems to change? Or where the very distinguishable sound at a race track comes from as the cars whisk by you? Well believe it or not, this is science! The name of this is called the Doppler effect, named for the scientist who discovered it. His name was Christian Doppler, and he discovered it around 1840 in Prague. He preformed the experiment in two segments. In the first experiment, he had a band play music while aboard a moving train, and would have observers listen to the music in a stationary location while the train went by. In the second experiment, he had a group of observers sit aboard a moving train, while the band played in a stationary location. In both cases, observers noticed the phenomenon. The change in sound perception can be explained through relativity.

When the sound source moves toward an observer, each successive wave is emitted closer to the observer than the previous wave. Thus, it will take just a little less time to reach the observer than the previous one. Since the time between waves is reduced, the frequency is increased. Similarly if the sound source is moving away from the observer, the frequency, and therefor pitch, is decreased. If the observer is moving away from the sound source, the frequency will be lowered, and if the observer moves closer to the sound source, the frequency is increased. While the frequency will change whether the observer or sound source is moving, it is easier to show with the sound source as the one moving. This figure demonstrated the sound source moving:

In classical physics, where the speeds of source and the receiver relative to the medium are lower than the velocity of waves in the medium, the relationship between observed frequency (f) and emitted frequency (f_o) is given by: [latex]\text{f}=\frac{(\text{c}+{\text{v}_\text{r}})}{(\text{c}+{\text{v}_\text{s}})}*\text{f}_0[/latex]where c – velocity of the sound waves in the medium, v_r– velocity of the observer or reciever, v_s – velocity of the sound source, and f₀ – original frequency of the sound waves.

The above formula assumes that the source is either directly approaching or receding from the observer. If the source approaches the observer at an angle (but still with a constant velocity), the observed frequency that is first heard is higher than the object’s emitted frequency. Thereafter, there is a monotonic decrease in the observed frequency as it gets closer to the observer, through equality when it is closest to the observer, and a continued monotonic decrease as it recedes from the observer. When the observer is very close to the path of the object, the transition from high to low frequency is very abrupt. When the observer is far from the path of the object, the transition from high to low frequency is gradual.

If the speeds and are small compared to the speed of the wave, the relationship between observed frequency and emitted frequency is approximately

Observed frequency: [latex]\text{f} = (1 + \frac{\Delta \text{v}}{\text{c}})\text{f}_{0}[/latex]

Change in frequency: [latex]\Delta \text{f} = \frac{\Delta \text{v}}{\text{c}}\text{f}_{0}[/latex]

where [latex]\Delta \text{v}[/latex] is the velocity of the receiver relative to the source: it is positive when the source and the receiver are moving towards each other.

Sonic Booms

A sonic boom is the sound associated with the shock waves created by an object traveling through the air faster than the speed of sound.

Sonic Booms

A sonic boom is the sound associated with the shock waves created by an object traveling through the air faster than the speed of sound. It can be viewed as a Doppler effect on steroids; sonic booms generate an enormous amount of energy, and sound like explosions. The first man made object to ever create this phenomenon was a bullwhip. The ‘crack’ of the whip is a result of this sonic boom. This version of a Doppler effect is demonstrated by.

When the sound source passes through the air, it creates a series of pressure waves. These waves are travelling at the speed of sound, and as the speed of the sound source increases, the waves, not being able to get out of each other’s way, are forced together. They eventually merge into a single shock wave traveling at the speed of sound. This is a critical speed, known as Mach. The shock waves radiate out from the sound source, and create a “Mach cone’. The half angle, [latex]\alpha[/latex], can be found using the equation

[latex]sin\alpha=\frac{\text{v}_\text{s}}{\text{v}_\text{r}}[/latex].

From previous atoms, we know that [latex]\frac{\text{v}_\text{s}}{\text{v}_\text{r}}[/latex]is the sound source’s Mach number.

At the front of the sound source, there is a sudden rise in pressure, while at the end of the source there is a decreasing pressure. This ‘overpressure profile’ is known as an N-wave. There is a big boom when there is a sudden change in pressure, and since the pressure changes twice, this is a double boom.