The Doppler Effect is a phenomenon where the frequency of a wave appears to change due to the relative motion between the source of the wave and an observer. This effect is commonly observed in various scenarios, including sound waves and light waves.
Here's a breakdown of the Doppler Effect with examples:
1. Sound Waves Example:
When a moving vehicle with a siren passes by, you might notice that the pitch of the siren appears to change. As the vehicle approaches you, the sound waves are compressed, resulting in a higher frequency (higher pitch). Once the vehicle passes and moves away, the sound waves are stretched, causing a lower frequency (lower pitch) to be perceived.
2. Light Waves Example:
In astronomy, the Doppler Effect is used to study the movement of stars and galaxies. When a star moves closer to Earth, its light waves are compressed, shifting towards the blue end of the spectrum (called blue shift). Conversely, when a star moves away, its light waves are stretched, shifting towards the red end of the spectrum (called red shift).
In summary, the Doppler Effect occurs when there is relative motion between a wave source and an observer, causing a change in frequency that is perceived as a shift in pitch for sound waves and a shift in color for light waves.
