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Doppler Effect

Notes On Doppler Effect

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Mihlali Ngcoko
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52 views3 pages

Doppler Effect

Notes On Doppler Effect

Uploaded by

Mihlali Ngcoko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Topic Test 1

Grade12

Doppler Effect

Term 2

Duration: 50 Minutes
Marks: 40
QUESTION 1
An emergency vehicle travelling down a road at constant speed emits sound waves
from its siren. A man stands on the side of the road with a detector which registers
sound waves at a frequency of 1 500 Hz as the vehicle approaches him. After passing
him, and moving away at the same constant speed, sound waves of frequency 1 350
Hz are registered. Assume that the speed of sound in air is 340m.s -1 .

1.1 State the Doppler Effect in words. (2marks)

1.2 Explain why the observed frequency of the siren decreases as


it passes the man. (2marks)

1.3 Calculate the speed at which the emergency vehicle is moving. (7marks)

1.4 Calculate the frequency at which the siren emits the sound waves. (3marks)

[total = 14 marks]

QUESTION 2
During an experiment to determine the speed of sound, learners are given a car with
a hooter that sounds a single note of frequency 450 Hz. They drive the car at constant
speed past a stationary tape recorder which is mounted in the middle of the road.
Ignore the effects of friction. The tape recorder records the sound of the cars hooter.
The learners make the following observation:

The pitch of the sound from the hooter as it moved towards the tape recorder was
higher than the pitch as the siren moved away from the recorder.

2.1 Name the effect which explains this observation. (2marks)

In one of the tests the speed of the car was recorded as 39,83km.h -1 .
Two notes from the hooter were recorded: one with a frequency of 465 Hz and
the other note with a frequency lower than 450 Hz.

2.2 Convert 39,83km.h -1 to m.s -1 . (2marks)

2.3 Determine the speed of sound in air. (5marks)

2.4 Give a reason why the observed frequencies are respectively higher
and lower than the frequency of the source. (2marks)
[total = 11 marks]
QUESTION 3
A study of spectral lines obtained from various stars can provide valuable information
about the movement of the stars. The two diagrams below represent different spectral
lines of an element. Diagram 1represents the spectrum of the element in a laboratory
on Earth. Diagram 2 represents the spectrum of the same element from a distant star.

3.1 Is the star moving towards or away from the Earth? (2marks)

3.2 Explain the answer by referring to the shifts in the spectral lines
in the two diagrams above. (3marks)
[total = 05 marks]

QUESTION 4
The siren of an emergency vehicle produces a sound of frequency 900 Hz. A woman
sitting next to the road notices that the pitch of the sound changes as the vehicle
moves towards and then away from her.

4.1 Write down the name of the above phenomenon. (2mark)

4.2 Assume that the speed of sound in air is 340m.s -1 . Calculate the frequency of
the sound of the siren observed by the woman, when the vehicle is moving
towards her at a speed of 30m.s-1 . (4mark)

4.3 The vehicle moves away from the woman at constant velocity, then speeds up.

4.3.1 How will the observed frequency compare with the original
frequency of the siren when the vehicle moves away from the
woman at constant velocity? Write only GREATER THAN,
SMALLER THAN or EQUAL TO. (2marks)

4.3.2 How will the observed frequency change as the vehicle speeds up
whilst moving away? Write only INCREASES, DECREASES or
REMAINS THE SAME. (2marks)
[total = 10 marks]

THE END

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