Stationary observer - moving source
Stationary source - moving observer
This module is concerned with the Doppler effect which is the change in the frequency of a wave at an observer where there is relative motion between the observer and the source of the wave. The situations covered in this module are limited to
On completion of the module you should be able, for the four cases above, to
source moving towards and away from a stationary observer
observer moving towards and away from a stationary source
observer moving towards and away from a stationary source
On completion of the module you should be able, for the four cases above, to
- predict the direction of the change in frequency
- predict whether there is a change in the wavelength or velocity of the wave at the observer AND the direction of the change if there is one
- recognise the mathematical relationship that is appropriate to calculate the frequency at the observer and justify the use of that relationship in terms of the relative motion of the observer and source and the direction of the frequency change
- carry out calculations to determine the observed frequency