A LEVEL PHYSICS

DOPPLERS EFFECT

Zahid I. B. Khan
Hotline: 01911591319, 01714121925.

Description: Edexcel Alevel Physics notes on Wave Properties

DOPPLER EFFECT

Change in frequency because of motion

The frequency of a wave changes as the distance between its source and the observer changes. The
phenomenon is known as Doppler Effect.
Physicist Christian Johann Doppler first explained why a sound wave of same pitch appears
different from a moving object to an observer standing or moving at a different velocity. If a source of
sound of a constant pitch is moving towards an observer, the sound seems higher in pitch, whereas if
the source is moving away it seems lower. Standing on a railway station while a fast moving train passes
one can easily perceive the difference in pitch. We say the train whooshes away though.
The actual change in wave length of the wave in Doppler Effect is sometimes called Dopplers Shift.
If the displacement between the source and observer is decreasing Dopplers shift is negative
(decrease in wavelength). This is called Blue shift. If the displacement between the source and the
observer is increasing, Dopplers shift is positive (increase in wavelength). This is called Red Shift.
It can be observed as a fire brigade car horn approaches towards the observer the wavelength of sound wave
reaching the observer decreases.
Situation:1

The source (fire brigade), is a stationary object emitting waves (blowing siren) at a constant pitch with
a velocity c (m/s). The observer is listening a constant pitch of sound as well. Lets take the wavelength of this
sound reaching the observer at normal condition as, (m).

Situation: 2

Now the car is moving at a velocity, v (m/s), towards the observer. According to Doppler Effect the wavelength
of sound reaching the observer now will decrease. Since more waves will reach at a less time, hence, frequency
increases. Lets take the new wavelength as, s.

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The Doppler Effect proves that the ratio of the change in wavelength to original wavelength is
same as the ratio of the speed of the moving source to the speed of the emitted waves.
Interpreting this theorem gives us the following equation:

Or

f v

f
c

= frequency at the observer, f 0 = frequency of the source, vs = velocity of the source, and
vr = velocity of the observer relative to the medium, we can derive further:

If we consider, f

f
c vr

f
c vs
, 0

Although the Doppler Effect was first investigated using sound wave, it is applicable for all types of
wave. Especially light waves and other electromagnetic waves from distant galaxies.
The shiny diamonds in the sky are stars we say. However we found those are all lights emitted or
reflected from distant galaxies or other planetary bodies. We are the observers from other planet which is in a
different motion compared to the stars. Now the point is while light comes to our planet Doppler Effect takes
place. This knowledge allowed scientist to interpret the distant past and predict the near future of our
universe. Using Doppler Effect it is possible to measure the velocity at which the stars or galaxies are
approaching or receding from us.
Astronomers can use a spectrometer to separate suns light into its respective wavelengths. The suns
spectrum shows dark lines caused by absorption for the chemicals present in it. If the same element is present
in other planets, they will also show dark lines at that particular wave length of their spectrum. Astronomers
can use these dark lines from the sun, and compare the same dark line from other planet to see how far the
planet has shifted. The shift caused by Doppler Effect and it indicates the planets movement relative to earth.
REDSHIFT AND BLUESHIFT
Change in stars spectrum
Compared spectrum of the planets with the sun gives an indication if the planet is moving towards the
earth or moving away from the earth. In the visible light, the red light has the longest wavelength, and the
violet has the shortest. If the planet is moving towards the earth than each wavelength of emitted light will be
slightly closer than the one before in the spectrum. This results a net displacement in the wavelength of
spectral lines towards the blue end of the visible spectrum. This is because the blue region has the longest
wavelength.
Likewise, if the planet is moving away from the earth than each wavelength of the emitted light will be
slightly further away. This results a displacement in the wavelength of spectral lines towards the red end of
the visible spectra. These phenomenons are known as red-shift and blue-shift respectively.
The emission spectra from the spectrum of the sun and that of hydrogen in the lab are identical, i.e.
the pattern in the spectra for a particular element is always same. This is because, the sun is filled with
hydrogen and transition of excited electrons in hydrogen atoms of the sun and in the lab from high to low
energy levels gives off photons of specific wavelength. This yields a dark line at fixed energy or wavelength of
photon. When these spectra from the sun are compared with a distant star, the pattern of the lines are the
same but corresponding lines have greater wavelengths.
This means:
- The distant galaxy is also filled with hydrogen
- Their emissions are the same but wavelengths are increased due to a red-shift.
- The star is moving away from our system (earth).
- Dopplers equation can be used to find the stars relative velocity.

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HUBBLES LAW
Scientific law of galaxy speed
The first quite realistic estimation of the distances to many galaxies were made by Edwin Hubble in the
early 19th century. He found that emission spectra of different stars reveal that most of them have a RedDopplers-shift except for few. The shift increases as the distance increases. That means they are all receding
away from our galaxy and from each other. This relative velocity is called the recession velocity.
Approximate measurements of the distance between galaxy and other stars have been
estimated using parallax method and inverse square law. Allowing for up to 50% uncertainty (due to high
inaccuracy in measuring distance between stars) it is found that the recession velocity between two
stars is directly proportional to the distance between them. The uniform relation between the velocity
of expansion and distance from the earth is known as Hubbles Law.

Age of universe

1
15 billion years 5 billion
Hubble ' s constant

Galaxies or stars at different direction with equivalent distance from the Earth, however, had equal red
shifts. This constant relationship between distance and speed led cosmologists to believe that the universe is
expanding uniformly. That means before time the universe was one solid that exploded to form a finite but very
large no. of stellar bodies. This event is called the Big Bang. Ever since that event the universe in expanding.
The age of the universe thus can be estimated.

There are two possible outcomes to an expanding universe. If it continues to expand such that its
density goes below a critical value at which gravitation can no longer overcome the expansion, the universe will
continue to expand indefinitely. Above the critical density, it is possible that gravitation will prevent further
expansion, cause the universe to contract and lead to a Big Crunch.

-END-

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