SMT SULOCHANADEVI SINGHANIA SCHOOL

Understanding Sound: Frequency, Pitch, And Amplitude Explained

NAME:RANAJOY ROY
CLASS:XII/C
ROLL NO:17
Acknowledgement

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our respected Principal, Mrs Revathi Srinivasan,
for providing the necessary resources and a conducive environment for conducting this experiment.
Her continuous support of scientific exploration in the school has been instrumental in making this
project possible.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my Physics Teacher, Mr Ramakant Gupta, for his
invaluable guidance, support, and encouragement throughout the course of this experiment. His
expertise in physics and dedication to helping me understand the principles of the Doppler Effect
greatly enhanced the learning experience.
INDEX

SR.NO CONTENTS PAGE NO

1. Cover Page 1

2. Acknowledgement 2

3. Introduction 3

4. Theoretical Background 4-5

5. Applications 6

6. Experimental Setup 7

7. Data Collection and Analysis 8

8. Experiment 2 9

9. Experiment 3 10

10. Conclusion 11

11. Bibliography 12
Introduction

The Doppler Effect, first described by Austrian physicist Christian Doppler in 1842, refers to the
change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave
source. This phenomenon is most commonly encountered in sound waves but also applies to light
and electromagnetic radiation.

When a sound-emitting object moves toward an observer, the waves in front are compressed,
leading to a higher frequency. Conversely, as it moves away, the waves are stretched, resulting in a
lower frequency. This project investigates this principle using accessible materials and simple
experimental design.

This change in frequency is measurable and can be calculated using a mathematical formula.

Beyond sound, the Doppler Effect plays a vital role in several scientific and technological
applications. In astronomy, it helps determine the movement of stars and galaxies through redshift
and blueshift, indicating whether celestial objects are moving away from or toward Earth. In
meteorology, Doppler radar is used to track weather systems and measure wind speeds. Medical
imaging uses Doppler ultrasound to observe blood flow and detect blockages in vessels. Even in
everyday life, this phenomenon is experienced when a passing vehicle's siren appears to change
pitch. These diverse applications underline the Doppler Effect’s importance in understanding motion
and wave behavior in various contexts.
Theoretical Background

Sound is a mechanical longitudinal wave that requires a medium for propagation. The frequency of a
wave determines its pitch, and its amplitude affects the loudness.

The Doppler Effect can be mathematically expressed as:

Where:

 is the observed frequency,

 is the source frequency,

 is the speed of sound in the medium,

 is the speed of the observer,

 is the speed of the source

 Different Cases:

 Source Approaching:

 Source Receding:

 Observer Approaching:

 Observer Receding:
Applications of the Doppler Effect

The Doppler Effect has numerous practical and scientific applications across various fields. Its ability
to provide information about the relative motion between a wave source and an observer makes it a
powerful analytical tool. Below are some of its most important applications:

1. Astronomy and Cosmology

The Doppler Effect is crucial in observational astronomy for understanding the motion of stars,
galaxies, and other celestial bodies:

 Redshift: When a star or galaxy moves away from Earth, its light shifts toward the red end of
the spectrum, indicating an increase in wavelength (lower frequency).
 Blueshift: If a celestial object is moving closer, the light is shifted toward the blue end (higher
frequency).
 This principle is used to support the Big Bang Theory, as the redshift of distant galaxies
implies that the universe is expanding.

2. Medical Imaging – Doppler Ultrasound

In the field of medicine, Doppler ultrasound is used to:

 Measure blood flow velocity in arteries and veins.

 Detect blockages, narrowed vessels, or blood clots.
 Monitor fetal health by analyzing blood flow in the umbilical cord and heart.

3. Radar and Speed Detection

The Doppler Effect is widely used in Doppler radar systems:

 Police radar guns measure the speed of moving vehicles.

 The radar sends out a radio wave that reflects off the moving vehicle, and the frequency
shift of the reflected wave helps calculate its speed.

4. Weather Forecasting – Doppler Weather Radar

 Meteorologists use Doppler radar to measure the motion of precipitation particles.

 It helps track storm systems, tornadoes, and hurricanes, and predicts their movement and
intensity.
  Velocity data from Doppler radar can show wind patterns within storm systems, improving
early warning systems.

5. Navigation – SONAR and Submarine Communication

 In underwater navigation, SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) uses the Doppler Effect to
detect and track moving objects such as submarines or underwater drones.
 Doppler SONAR systems are used to determine the speed and direction of underwater
currents and vessels.

6. Satellite Communication and GPS

 The Global Positioning System (GPS) compensates for the Doppler shift caused by the
relative motion between satellites and receivers.
 Precise positioning data depends on adjusting for the frequency changes due to the high-
speed movement of satellites.

7. Acoustics and Audio Engineering

 The Doppler Effect is considered in sound design, particularly in simulations and games, to
create realistic sound effects for moving objects (like passing cars or planes).
 It’s also useful in noise analysis and designing quiet zones around airports or highways.

8. Industrial Applications

 Used in non-contact flow measurement in industrial pipelines (e.g., chemical or wastewater

plants) to measure the velocity of fluids or gases using Doppler flowmeters.
Experimental Setup

Materials:

 Tone generator app (e.g., 1000 Hz sound)

 Microphone/sound sensor

 Measuring tape

 Stopwatch or speed sensor

 Data logging app/software

Procedure:

1. Position sound source at one end of a hallway.

2. Place microphone at a fixed point.

3. Emit constant tone.

4. Move the source toward and then away from the microphone at a known speed.

5. Record observed frequency during each motion.

6. Repeat for various speeds.

Controlled Variables:

 Temperature

 Source frequency

 Measurement distance

Data Collection and Analysis

Speed (m/s) Frequency (Hz) Toward Frequency (Hz) Away

0 1000 1000

2 1020 980

4 1040 960

6 1060 940
8 1080 920

Trend: As speed increases, the frequency shift becomes more pronounced.

Experiment 2: Using a Rotating Sound Source

Objective:

To observe the Doppler Effect using a sound source moving in a circular path.

Materials:

 Rotating platform/fan

 Phone with tone app

 Microphone

 Frequency analyzer

Procedure:

1. Attach phone to a rotating platform.

2. Emit 1000 Hz tone.

3. Position microphone nearby.

4. Record and compare frequencies as the phone rotates.

Observations:

Higher frequency when approaching mic, lower when receding.

Conclusion:

Demonstrates Doppler shift in circular motion.

Experiment 3: Doppler Effect with a Moving Observer

Objective:

To observe the Doppler Effect with a moving observer and a stationary source.

Materials:

 Stationary tone emitter

 Smartphone with recording app

 Trolley/skateboard

Procedure:

1. Place sound source.

2. Move toward it on a trolley while recording.

3. Repeat while moving away.

4. Analyze frequency from recording.

Observations:

 Approach: Frequency increases

 Recession: Frequency decreases

Conclusion:

Confirms Doppler shift due to observer motion.

Conclusion

This project successfully demonstrated the Doppler Effect in various settings. Both theoretical
predictions and practical observations aligned well. The data confirmed that relative motion affects
perceived frequency.

Future scope includes studying electromagnetic Doppler shift and incorporating real-time digital
sensors for higher accuracy.
Bibliography

1. Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Cengage

2. Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. Fundamentals of Physics, Wiley

3. Wikipedia - Doppler Effect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppler_effect

4. HyperPhysics - Doppler: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu