Doppler Effect

The pitch of a sound wave relates to the wave's _________________.

• Amplitude

• Frequency

• Wavelength

• Period

What is the Doppler Effect?

• A change in frequency due to the relative motion of a wave source and an observer

• When a wave overlaps with another wave

• When a wave bounces off of another object

• When a wave bends due to traveling through a different medium

You are driving in a car and honk the horn at a person standing in the street. As you approach the person, what happens to the pitch of the horn according to you in the car?

• It increases

• It decreases

• It stays the same because you are in the car moving with the sound.

Light can change color due to the Doppler Effect.

• True

• False

You are standing on the side of the road when a police car races past you with its siren on. After the police car passes you, what happens to the pitch of the siren?

• It increases

• It decreases

• It turns red

An astronomer looks at a star in the night sky. Based on his calculations the star's light is shifting towards the color blue. What does this mean about the star?

• It's moving towards the astronomer

• It's moving away from the astronomer

• It's not moving at all

A car is not moving but the horn is on. You run towards the car to investigate what's going on. As you approach the car, what happens to the frequency of the sound waves from the horn?

• They increase

• They decrease

Look at the picture. Who is experiencing a higher pitched sound?

• Observer A

• Observer B

• There's no difference

Which feature of sound is determined by amplitude?

• Pitch
• Smoothness
• Loudness

If the distance represented by the letter A (the amplitude) were increased, how would it change the sound?

• The sound would be higher. 
• The sound would be lower. 
• The sound would be softer. 
• The sound would be louder.