The Doppler effect




When the source S  is moving forwards at the speed Vs from the
observer, at the precise time T, which is the period of the wave,
this wave that was emitted from the position So reaches the observer.
The source at this time is not located at the distance So, but It 
was moved and now located at the distance L's.
For the observer, It seems that the wave was originated from the
position S taking T' as time to arrive at its position:
L's = Vw . T'
We have :
Ls = Vw . T
And :
L's = Ls + Vs. T
Thus:
Vw . T '= Vw . T +Vs. T
Then:
T' = T . (Vw + Vs)/Vw
Or :


Where n' is the apparent frequency for the Observer. n is the real frequency of the wave.

Remarks:

  • When the source is stationary (Vs =0) then n' = n and T' = T, that is the observer get waves at every real period.
  • The more the speed Vs is big, the more the right edges of the waves are squeezed and leaving behind distant position between the edges. In the front , we have what we call the sound boom or the schok wave if the wave is a sound.

Next, the observer sit down on the frame O is at rest. The source S is moving at a speed Vs towards the Observer. The wave propagates at the speed Vw in all directions and towards the observer of course. When this observer receives the wave, at this precise time, the source is located not in Ls but in L's. For the observer, the period od the wave is T's. And at this precise time, the wave has travelled Ls = Vs . T , where T is the real period . T's is the apparent period. We can write: L's = Ls - Vs . T Because Ls = Vw . T and L's = Vw . T's Thus : Vw . T's = Vw . T - Vs . T = (Vw - Vs) . T Or 1/T's = Vw /(Vw - Vs) (1/T) Which means that the apparent frequency




Remarks:


Now, let's consider that the Observer is moving at a speed Vo and the sourse is moving at a speed Vs, oppraching the observer, that is in the opposite direction. The wave is always moving at the velocity Vw.

This case is like the last one except that the observer is moving. Then insted of L's = Vw . T' , we have L's = (Vw + Vo) . T' Thus : (Vw + Vo) . T' = (Vw - Vs) . T Hence:


In the relativistic case, the frequency ( 1/time) could be changed into: 1/gt Where g = 1/(1- (V2/c2))1/2 Hence : n' ( Relativistic) = (1/g) . n ( Classic) For the latter case, we have: n' = n .( (Vw+Vs)/(Vw-Vs))1/2 . (Vw+Vo)/Vw

In the case of the wave is light, Vw = c ( 3.10 8m/s) Then :
n' = n .( (c+Vs)/(c-Vs))1/2 . (c+Vo)/c
In the cast of the Observer is at rest, V0 =0, then: n' = n .( (c+Vs)/(c-Vs))1/2 .


© Abder. Ajaja

Studying Physics requires logic then Mathematics. Everything in Physics is effects, we are just trying to find their causes.