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Waves
Waves

Doppler Effect (General)

f′=fv±vov∓vsf' = f\frac{v \pm v_o}{v \mp v_s}

Frequency shift for moving source and/or observer.

Variables

f'
Observed frequency
Frequency heard
Hz
f
Source frequency
Emitted frequency
Hz
v
Wave speed
Speed in medium
m/s
v_o
Observer velocity
Observer speed
m/s
v_s
Source velocity
Source speed
m/s

Derivation

Upper signs: approaching. Lower signs: receding.

Your notes

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Common questions

What is the Doppler Effect (General) formula?

Doppler Effect (General) is written f' = fv ±vₒ/v mp vₛ. Frequency shift for moving source and/or observer. It belongs to Waves, under Doppler Effect.

What are the units in f' = fv ±vₒ/v mp vₛ?

In SI units, f' is observed frequency, measured in 1/s; f is source frequency, measured in 1/s; v is wave speed, measured in m/s; v_o is observer velocity, measured in m/s; v_s is source velocity, measured in m/s.

How is the Doppler Effect (General) formula derived?

Upper signs: approaching. Lower signs: receding. The result is f' = fv ±vₒ/v mp vₛ.