doppler shift calculation at low frequencies

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bwanaaa

Senior member
Dec 26, 2002
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yes i realize the principle of the doppler shift is the fact that the emitter is traveling and thus emits a new wave after having traveled some distance into the preceding wave's wavelength. As a result, the wave is 'truncated' and perceived to be shorter (in the case of the emitter traveling in the direction of the wave)

but suppose the wave frequency is low - e.g. - .01 hz.
and the wave speed is 100 m/s
and the emitter is traveling at 1 m/s

the emitter will produce a wave every hundred seconds.
every time a wave is generated it will constructively interfere with the preceding wave exactly. no frequency shift should be perceived, just an amplitude increase.

however, at speeds below and above 1 m/s, can it be said that the emitter will generate waves that will result in a doppler shift?
 

KenJackson

Junior Member
Jun 16, 2013
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Wouldn't the emitter speed have to equal the wave speed to get constructive interference?

At that point I guess you have something equivalent to breaking the sound barrier--so constructive that you get a bang.
 
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