DP IB Physics: HL

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First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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9.5.3 The Doppler Equation

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The Doppler Equation

Calculating Doppler Shift

  • When a source of sound waves moves relative to a stationary observer, the observed frequency can be calculated using the equation below:

 

9-5-3-doppler-calculation-1-ib-hl

Doppler shift equation for a moving source

  • The wave velocity for sound waves is 340 ms-1
  • The ± depends on whether the source is moving towards or away from the observer
    • If the source is moving towards the observer, the denominator is v - us
    • If the source is moving away from the observer, the denominator is v + us

 

  • When a source of sound waves remains stationary, but the observer is moving relative to the source, the observed frequency can be calculated using the equation below:

9-5-3-doppler-calculation-2-moving-observer-ib-hl

Doppler shift equation for a moving observer

  • The ± depends on whether the observer is moving towards or away from the source
    • If the observer is moving towards the source, the numerator is v + uo
    • If the observer is moving away from the source, the numerator is v − uo

 

  • These equations can also be written in terms of wavelength
    • For example, the equation for a moving source is shown below:
9-5-3-moving-source-wavelength-ib-hl
Doppler shift equation
for a moving source in terms of wavelength


  • The ± depends on whether the source is moving towards or away from the observer
    • If the source is moving towards, the term in the brackets is 1 minus u subscript S over v
    • If the source is moving away, the term in the brackets is 1 space plus thin space u subscript S over v

Worked example

A police car siren emits a sound wave with a frequency of 450 Hz. The car is traveling away from an observer at speed of 45 m s-1. The speed of sound is 340 m s-1. Which of the following is the frequency the observer hears?

   A. 519 Hz               B. 483 Hz               C. 397 Hz               D. 358 Hz

WE - Doppler shift equation answer image

Worked example

A bank robbery has occurred and the alarm is sounding at a frequency of 3 kHz. The thief jumps into a car which accelerates and reaches a constant speed. As he drives away at a constant speed, the frequency decreases to 2.85 kHz. The speed of sound is 340 m s-1. Determine at what speed must he be driving away from the bank.

Step 1: List the known quantities

    • Source frequency: f= 3 kHz = 3000 Hz
    • Observed frequency: f to the power of apostrophe= 2.85 kHz = 2850 Hz
    • Speed of sound: v = 340 m s-1
    • The observer is moving away from a stationary source of sound

Step 2: write the doppler shift equation

f to the power of apostrophe equals f open parentheses fraction numerator v minus u subscript o over denominator v end fraction close parentheses



Step 3: rearrange to find the desired quantity

f to the power of apostrophe over f equals open parentheses fraction numerator v minus u subscript o over denominator v end fraction close parentheses
f to the power of apostrophe over f cross times v equals v minus u subscript o
open parentheses f to the power of apostrophe over f cross times v close parentheses plus u subscript o equals v
u subscript o equals v minus open parentheses f to the power of apostrophe over f cross times v close parentheses



Step 4: substitute in values

u subscript o equals v minus open parentheses f to the power of apostrophe over f cross times v close parentheses equals 340 minus open parentheses 2850 over 3000 cross times 340 close parentheses equals 340 minus 323 equals 17 space m s to the power of negative 1 end exponent



Step 5: State final answer

    • The bank robber must be driving away at a constant speed of 17 ms-1 based on the change in frequency heard

Calculating Doppler Shift of Light

  • Doppler shift can be calculated with relation to a light emitting source
    • For example, a galaxy moving towards or away from Earth
  • Doppler shift for light is complicated, however if the speed of the observer or source is small (non-relativistic) compared to the speed of light, then this equation becomes simpler
  • The Doppler shift for a light-emitting non-relativistic source is described using the equation:


9-5-3-doppler-light-related-ib-hl

Doppler shift equation relating wavelength change for a moving source

  • Where:
    • Δf = change in frequency in Hertz (Hz)
    • f0 = reference frequency in Hertz (Hz)
    • λ = observed wavelength of the source in metres (m)
    • λ0 = reference wavelength in metres (m)
    • Δλ = change in wavelength in metres (m)
    • v = velocity of a galaxy in metres per seconds (m/s)
    • c = the speed of light in metres per second (m/s)
  • This means that the change in wavelength, Δλ:

Δλ = λ – λ0

  • This equation can be used to calculate the velocity of a galaxy if its wavelength can be measured and compared to a reference wavelength
  • Since the fractions have the same units on the numerator (top number) and denominator (bottom number), the Doppler shift has no units

Worked example

Light emitted from a star has a wavelength of 435 × 10-9 m. A distance galaxy emits the same light but has a wavelength of 485 × 10-9 m. Calculate the speed at which the galaxy is moving relative to Earth. The speed of light = 3 × 108 m/s.

8.3.2 Doppler Shift Worked Example

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