EFFECT OF FREQUENCY AND VELOCITY ON THE APPARENT CHANGE

OF FREQUENCY OF SOUND WAVE

ABSTRACT
The propagation of sound wave are affected by several factors, among them
are density of medium, temperature, direction of wind and humidity. In the
case of Doppler effect, the apparent frequency of sound wave are affected
mainly by speed of sound and actual frequency of sound wave. Doppler effect
is a change in frequency and wavelength of a wave. It is caused by the
change in distance between the thing creating the wave (causer) and
whatever is measuring (observer), seeing or hearing the wave.
Another word for "causer" is source. Another word for "change in distance" is
"speed" or "relative velocity". A common example is sitting in a car while
another car goes by the observer. The observer will hear a change in pitch,
while the source will not.

INTRODUCTION
Theory
Source moving , Observer stationary
1. Source, S moving towards stationary observer, O
S

O (stationary)

Comparatively ,
S stationary

v
O ( stationary)

S moving

(v-u)

Due to movement of S with speed u, in one second, the wave fronts are
compressed with a distance (v-u).

speed =

Distance
1

Therefore, in this case, speed = distance

The effect thus appear to be a decrease in wavelength.
i.e.

(v u)
f

Using v = f,
f'=

v
v
=
'
vu
f

( )

Therefore,

( vuv ) f

f '=

where

f ' : apparent frequency

f:

actual frequency

2. Source, S moving away from stationary observer, O

v
u

Comparatively,

O( stationary)

S
v+u

O (stationary)
S

Due to movement of S with speed u, in one second, the wave fronts seem to
be rarefied with a distance (v+u). The effect thus appear to be an increase in
wavelength.
i.e.

(v +u)
f

Using v = f,

f'=

v
v
=
'
v +u
f

( )

Therefore,

In general,

( v+v u ) f

f '=

( v v u ) f

f '=

Observer moving , Source stationary

1. Observer,O moving towards stationary source, S
S

speed of observer, u

Stationary
remains unchanged but velocity of wave relative to O varies

i.e. v-(-u) = v+u

Using v = f ,
f'=

But
f'=

v+ u'

v
f

v+ u'
v
f

()

Therefore ,

( v+vu' ) f

f '=

2. Observer, O moving away from stationary source, S

S
Stationary

 remains unchanged but velocity of wave relative to O varies

i.e. v-u
Using v = f ,
'

f =

But
f'=

vu '

v
f

vu '
v
f

()

Therefore ,

In general,

( vuv ' ) f

f '=

( v vu ' ) f

f '=

Source and Observer moving

1. Source, S and Observer, O moving towards each other
S
u
u
O
v
Since movement of S causes the change in whereas movement of O cause
the change in relative velocity.
Using v =f ,
We have

f'=

v'
'

But v=v+ u ,
=

vu
f

f '=

v +u '
vu
f

( )

Therefore,

( v+v uu' ) f

f=

2. Source, S and Observer, O moving away from each other

v
u

Since movement of S causes the change in whereas movement of O cause

the change in relative velocity.
Using v =f ,
We have

'

f =

But v=v-u ,
=

'

f =

vu '
v +u
f

( )

Therefore,

'
f
( vu
v +u )

f=

v +u
f

v'
'