GREPhysics.NET: GR8677 #12

GR8677 #12

Problem

GREPhysics.NET Official Solution

Wave Phenomena $\Rightarrow$ }Doppler Effect

For a source that's coming towards you, its frequency will obviously be higher than its original source frequency. Choices A and B are out. To know for sure whether the choice is C, D, or E, one can apply the Doppler Effect.

The Doppler Effect equation can easily be derived even if one forgets it. A source $f_0$ approaching at $v_0$ would have $\Delta \lambda$ , the distance between waves, decreasing. $v=\lambda f\Rightarrow \Delta \lambda=\frac{v_{sound}-v_{0}}{f_{0}}$ . The $\Delta \lambda$ wave travels at the speed of sound, thus the frequency you receive is: $f=\frac{v_{sound}}{\Delta \lambda}=10f_0$ . Choice E.

Alternate Solutions

flyboy621 2010-11-09 21:01:01	I find it easier to look at the time between successive wave crests. Let's say if the source were at rest, the time between crests would be $T$ . Then if the source is moving toward the observer at $.9c_s$ , the time between crests is $T/10$ . Therefore the frequency is 10 times higher, as in (E). Reply to this comment
kicksp 2007-10-29 10:11:11	Quick hand-waving arguments save us time here. Note that the observed frequency $f$ goes to infinity as $v\to v_0$ . A simple functional form for $f$ (which we could construct immediately even if we forgot the formula) is $f\prop \frac{1}{(1-v/v_0)}$ , yielding (E). Go maroons! Reply to this comment

Comments

ernest21
2019-08-10 03:09:24

Just to be clear for people that might be foggy on vector calc, the answer is (A) for reasons already explained. techraptor

Reply to this comment

fredluis
2019-08-08 12:42:30

I\'ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. kitchen remodeling

Reply to this comment

fredluis
2019-08-08 12:38:28

Just to be clear for people that might be foggy on vector calc, the answer is (A) for reasons already explained. bathroom remodel cost

Reply to this comment

joshuaprice153
2019-08-08 06:28:13

enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. towing service

Reply to this comment

flyboy621
2010-11-09 21:01:01

I find it easier to look at the time between successive wave crests. Let's say if the source were at rest, the time between crests would be $T$ . Then if the source is moving toward the observer at $.9c_s$ , the time between crests is $T/10$ . Therefore the frequency is 10 times higher, as in (E).

Reply to this comment

student2008
2008-10-11 12:48:31

...the frequency of the wave is $\omega_0 = \omega - k \cdot v_s$ ....

Reply to this comment

student2008
2008-10-11 12:44:23

The observable phase of the wave front at some point is $\phi_s = \omega \cdot t - k \cdot x$ , where $\omega$ and $k$ are the circular frequency and the wave vector measured in the observational reference frame. The source is moving with the constant velocity $v_s$ , so $x = v_s \cdot t$ . Thus, $\phi_s = (\omega - k \cdot v_s) t$ . It means that in the reference frame where the source is at rest the frequency of the wave is $\omega_0 = \omega - k \cdot c$ . Since $k = {\omega \over c}$ , we get eventually: $\omega = \frac{\omega_0}{1 - \frac{v_s}c}$ .

Reply to this comment

ssp
2008-09-05 02:46:12

Bit more handwaving...

So we take the fact that we know the frequency has to increase from above. Now we look at the speed. The shift has to large because the speed is large (speed and frequency are still proportional) and you got your answer, (E).

Little trick from GR

Reply to this comment

kicksp
2007-10-29 10:11:11

Quick hand-waving arguments save us time here. Note that the observed frequency $f$ goes to infinity as $v\to v_0$ . A simple functional form for $f$ (which we could construct immediately even if we forgot the formula) is

$f\prop \frac{1}{(1-v/v_0)}$ ,

yielding (E).

Go maroons!

vikhuan
2009-06-08 02:04:49

tyjyyty

Reply to this comment

Post A Comment!

You are replying to:

Bit more handwaving... So we take the fact that we know the frequency has to increase from above. Now we look at the speed. The shift has to large because the speed is large (speed and frequency are still proportional) and you got your answer, (E). Little trick from GR

Bare Basic LaTeX Rosetta Stone
LaTeX syntax supported through dollar sign wrappers $, ex., $\alpha^2_0$ produces $\alpha^2_0$ .
type this...	to get...
$\int_0^\infty$	$\int_0^\infty$
$\partial$	$\partial$
$\Rightarrow$	$\Rightarrow$
$\ddot{x},\dot{x}$	$\ddot{x},\dot{x}$
$\sqrt{z}$	$\sqrt{z}$
$\langle my \rangle$	$\langle my \rangle$
$\left( abacadabra \right)_{me}$	$\left( abacadabra \right)_{me}$
$\vec{E}$	$\vec{E}$
$\frac{a}{b}$	$\frac{a}{b}$

The Sidebar Chatbox...
Scroll to see it, or resize your browser to ignore it...

All-Solutions List | Latest Comments | Unanswered Questions (Cries for Help!) |::| About

This site is not affiliated with ETS, nor is it officially endorsed (yet) by ETS. This site is the work of an individual named Yosun Chang. The solutions, sans user comments and ETS questions, are © 2005 by Yosun Chang except where noted. All rights reserved. / The comments appending particular solutions are due to the respective users. / Educational Testing Service, ETS, the ETS logo, Graduate Record Examinations, and GRE are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service. The examination questions are © 1997 and © 2001 by ETS.

Bare Basic LaTeX Rosetta Stone