#$&* course Phy 232 7/15 10 014. `Query 12
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Given Solution: `a** The 'pulses' emitted by an approaching source in a certain time interval are all received in a shorter time interval, since the last 'pulse' is emitted closer to the source than the first and therefore arrives sooner than if the source was still. So the frequency is higher. If the source is moving away then the last 'pulse' is emitted further from the source than if the source was still, hence arrives later, so the pulses are spread out over a longer time interval and the frequency is lower. GOOD EXPLANATION FROM STUDENT: Well, for the purposes of this explanation, I am going to explain the movement of the buzzer in one dimention which will be towards and away. The buzzer is actually moving in a circle which means it exists in three dimentions but is moving in two dimentions with relation to the listener. However, using trigonometry we can determine that at almost all times the buzzer is moving either towards or away from the listener so I will explain this in terms of one dimention. }When a buzzer is 'buzzing' it is emitting sound waves at a certain frequency. This frequency appears to change when the buzzer moves toward or away from the listener but the actual frequency never changes from the original frequency. By frequency we mean that a certain number of sound waves are emitted in a given time interval (usually x number of cycles in a second). So since each of the waves travel at the same velocity they will arrive at a certain vantage point at the same frequency that they are emitted. So If a 'listener' were at this given vantage point 'listening', then the listener would percieve the frequency to be what it actually is. Now, if the buzzer were moving toward the listener then the actual frequency being emitted by the buzzer would remain the same. However, the frequency percieved by the listener would be higher than the actual frequency. This is because, at rest or when the buzzer is not moving, all of the waves that are emitted are traveling at the same velocity and are emitted from the same location so they all travel the same distance. But, when the buzzer is moving toward the listener, the waves are still emitted at the same frequency, and the waves still travel at the same velocity, but the buzzer is moving toward the listener, so when a wave is emitted the buzzer closes the distance between it and the listener a little bit and there fore the next wave emitted travels less distance than the previous wave. So the end result is that each wave takes less time to reach the listener than the previously emitted wave. This means that more waves will reach the listener in a given time interval than when the buzzer was at rest even though the waves are still being emitted at the same rate. This is why the frequency is percieved to be higher when the buzzer is moving toward the listener. By the same token, if the same buzzer were moving away from the listener then the actual frequency of the waves emitted from the buzzer would be the same as if it were at rest, but the frequency percieved by the listener will be lower than the actual frequency. This is because, again at rest the actual frequency will be the percieved frequency. But when the buzzer is moving away from the listener, the actual frequency stays the same, the velocity of the waves stays the same, but because the buzzer moves away from the listener a little bit more each time it emits a wave, the distance that each wave must travel is a little bit more than the previously emitted wave. So therefore, less waves will pass by the listener in a given time interval than if the buzzer were not moving. This will result in a lower percieved frequency than the actual frequency. ** &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): So, is the frequency when it is further away actually lower or just a perceived lower? ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique Rating: 1