DOPPLER EFFECT

Pitch is defined as the sensation that sound produces in the ear of a listener. It depend upon the
frequency of sound. The greater the frequency, greater the pitch and lower the frequency, lower
the pitch of the sound produced by source. If the frequency is greater, sound will be shrill. If
frequency is lower, sound will be grave.
The apparent change in the pitch of sound waves due to relative motion of source of sound and
the listener is known as Dopplers Effect.
Dopplers Effect can be explained by considering three possibilities:
1. When the listener is moving and the source of sound is at rest.
2. When the source is moving and the listener is at rest.
3. When both the source of sound and listener are moving.

Case 01(a)
When the listener moves towards a stationary source.
Consider a stationary source of sound emitting waves of frequency and of wavelength . If V
V
be the speed of sound waves then: = ----- eq (1)

If the listener is moving towards the source with
speed Vo, the sound waves approaches him with
a speed of V + Vo. Since the relative velocity of
sound waves changes, as a result frequency of
sound will also change. Therefore the apparent
frequency (`) heard by the moving listener will be:
V + Vo
` =

Putting the value of from eq (1)
V + Vo
` = V

V + Vo
` = ( )
V

Above equation shows that apparent frequency (`) heard by the listener moving away from the
source will be greater than the frequency () emitted by the source. Hence, pitch of the sound
increases.
Case 01(b)
When the listener moves away from a stationary source.
If the listener is moving away from the source with
speed Vo, the sound waves approaches him with
a speed of V Vo. Since the relative velocity of
sound waves changes, as a result frequency of
sound will also change. Therefore the apparent
frequency (`) heard by the moving listener will be:
V Vo
` =

Putting the value of from eq (1)
V - Vo
` = V

Engr. Syed M. Tanveer Page 1 of 3

 V Vo
` = ( )
V

Above equation shows that apparent frequency (`) heard by the listener moving away from the
source will be less than the frequency () emitted by the source. Hence, pitch of the sound
decreases.
Case 2(a)
When the source moves towards a stationary listener
If a source of sound approaches a stationary listener with a speed Vs then the sound waves present
between the listener and the source are compressed. Therefore, the wavelength of the waves
received by the listener decreases and it is given by:
V Vs
= ----- eq (2)

As the wavelength decreases, frequency
increases. If ` be the apparent frequency
then it is given by:
V
` =
'
Putting the value of from eq (2), we have
V
` = V Vs

V
` = ( )
V Vs

Above equation indicates that apparent frequency (`) increases due to which its pitch also
increases.

Case 2(b)
When the source moves away from a stationary listener
If a source of sound moves away from a stationary listener with velocity Vs, then the wavelength
of sound waves received by the listener increases and is given by:
V Vs
= ----- eq (2)

As the wavelength increases, frequency
decreases. If ` be the apparent
frequency then it is given by:
V
` =
'
Putting the value of from eq (2), we
have
V
` = V + Vs
(
)
V
` = ( )
V + Vs

Above equation indicates that apparent frequency (`) decreases due to which its pitch also
decreases.

Engr. Syed M. Tanveer Page 2 of 3

 Case 3 (a)
When both source of sound and listener are moving towards each other
If the listener is moving with velocity Vo towards the source of sound then frequency changes from
to ` and is given by:
V + Vo
` = ( )
V
If the source of sound is also moving towards
the listener with velocity Vs then frequency
further changes from ` to `` and is given
by:
V
`` = ( ) `
V Vs
Putting the value of ` from above equation,
we have
V V + Vo
`` = ( )( )
V Vs V
V + Vo
`` = ( )
V Vs

In this case, frequency heard by the listener will be greater than the frequency emitted by the
source. Hence pitch of the sound increases.

Case 3(b)
When both source of sound and listener are moving away from each other
If the listener is moving with velocity Vo away from the source of sound then frequency changes
from to ` and is given by:
V Vo
` = ( )
V
If the source of sound is also moving
away from the listener with velocity Vs
then frequency further changes from
` to `` and is given by:
V
`` = ( ) `
V + Vs

Putting the value of ` from above

equation, we have
V Vo V
`` = ( )( )
V V + Vs
V Vo
`` = ( )
V + Vs

In this case, frequency heard by the listener will be lesser than the frequency emitted by the source.
Hence, pitch of the sound decreases.

Engr. Syed M. Tanveer Page 3 of 3