Doppler effect

A Closer Look

The whistle of an approaching train has a higher pitch as the train approaches than when it recedes, even though that same whistle, heard by a passenger on the train, maintains a constant pitch. This is an example of the Doppler effect, common to all wave phenomena (in this case, a sound wave). Motion toward the source of a wave (or, equivalently, motion of the source toward the observer) entails that the peaks and troughs of the wave are encountered more quickly than if there were no motion, so the frequency of the wave is higher for the moving observer (hence the higher whistle pitch). Similarly, motion away from the source entails following the wave's motion, so the peaks and troughs are encountered less often, and the frequency is lower for the moving observer (hence the lower whistle pitch). The Doppler effect on light waves has enabled scientists to determine that the universe is expanding. The frequencies of light given off by various substances (such as the burning of hydrogen in the fusion reactions of most stars) has been found to be lower in distant galaxies and other celestial objects, a phenomenon called red shift, since the visible light is shifted toward the red, low-frequency end of the spectrum. Astronomer Edwin Hubble reasoned that the red shift was due to the Doppler effect. As galaxies speed away from us, the frequency of the light emitted appears lower. Doppler radar and sonar use the Doppler effect on reflected radio and sound waves to distinguish between stationary and moving objects and to determine the velocity of moving ones; the echolocation of bats and some whales also exploits the Doppler effect on reflected sound waves for navigating and catching prey.