In: Physics
QUESTION 2 The Doppler Effect may be used to determine the relative velocity of objects, such as cars on the highway, or stars in the galaxy. When the OBSERVED frequency appears to increase, relative to the source, this means ... ...
the source is moving AWAY FROM the observer.
... the source is moving at the same speed as the observer.
... the source is moving TOWARDS the observer.
... the source and the observer are motionless.
The Doppler effect is the change in frequency of a wave in relation to an observer who is moving relative to the wave source. The relationship between observed frequency fo and emitted frequency fs is given by:
Let us consider the source and observer is moving along X-axes. The velocity will be positive if they are moving +Ve X-direction.
Here, in your problem, the observed frequency (fo) appears to increase, relative to the source frequency (fs). Therefore, you can write
Now you consider the four cases in your problem.
(a) the source is moving AWAY FROM the observer:
Let us consider the observer is at rest and the source is moving away from the observer with a relative velocity vs, then you can write from the above equation
Hence, this option is not true.
(b) the source is moving at the same speed as the observer:
There will be two cases -
(i) If the source and the observer is moving at same speed (v) and they move towards each others, then the equation will be
This condition will be true for your case.
(ii) If the source and the observer is moving at same speed (v) and they move away from each others, then the equation will be
This option will not be true for your case
(c) the source is moving TOWARDS the observer:
Let us consider the observer is at rest and the source is moving towards the observer with a relative velocity vs, then you can write from the above equation
This condition will be true for your case.
(d) the source and the observer are motionless:
The speed of observer and the source are zero. Then from the equation, you will obtain that
This option also not true.