Taylor approximation of the Doppler Law for slow-moving emitters

In summary, the Doppler Law states that the received frequency is equal to the emitted frequency multiplied by the square root of the ratio of 1 minus the velocity of the object divided by the speed of light, and using this fact, we can approximate the Doppler Law for most objects on Earth as F_r ≈ (1-\frac{v}{c})F_e, where v is much smaller than c.
  • #1
IntegrateMe
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The relationship linking the emitted frequency Fe and the received frequency Fr is the Doppler Law:

[tex]F_r = \sqrt \frac{1-\frac{v}{c}}{1-\frac{v}{c}} F_e[/tex]

The Taylor series for the function [tex]\sqrt\frac{1+x}{1-x}[/tex] near x = 0 is [tex]1+x+\frac{x^2}{2}+\frac{x^3}{3}+...[/tex]

On Earth, most objects travel with v much smaller than c. That is, the ratio v/c is very small. Use this fact to obtain the approximation to the Doppler Law for most objects on Earth:

[tex]F_r ≈ (1-\frac{v}{c})F_e[/tex]

I'm not really sure where to go with this. I know it will involve using the Taylor series 1 + x + x2/2 + ... probably only using the 1 + x part, but I'm not sure what to do from here.
 
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  • #2
Can someone please explain? Since v/c is very small on Earth, we can assume that the ratio v/c is approximately equal to 0. Therefore, using the Taylor series expansion for the Doppler Law, the approximation for most objects on Earth is: F_r ≈ (1+0) F_e = F_e Thus, the received frequency is approximately equal to the emitted frequency.
 

What is the Taylor approximation of the Doppler Law?

The Taylor approximation of the Doppler Law is a mathematical method used to approximate the frequency or wavelength of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a slow-moving object. It is based on the Taylor series expansion of the Doppler formula.

How is the Taylor approximation of the Doppler Law calculated?

The Taylor approximation is calculated by taking the first few terms of the Taylor series expansion of the Doppler formula, which involves taking the derivative of the function at a specific point and evaluating it at that point. The more terms included in the approximation, the more accurate the result will be.

When is the Taylor approximation of the Doppler Law used?

This approximation is typically used when the emitter is moving at a slow speed, which means that the terms involving higher powers of the velocity can be neglected without significantly affecting the accuracy of the result. It is commonly used in physics and astronomy to calculate the Doppler shift of spectral lines from objects with small relative velocities.

What are the limitations of the Taylor approximation of the Doppler Law?

The main limitation of this approximation is that it is only valid for slow-moving emitters. If the object is moving at high speeds, the higher order terms in the Taylor series become significant and cannot be neglected. In these cases, a more accurate method, such as the full Doppler formula, must be used to calculate the frequency or wavelength shift.

Can the Taylor approximation of the Doppler Law be used for any type of electromagnetic radiation?

Yes, the Taylor approximation can be applied to any type of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, radio waves, and X-rays. However, it is only accurate for small velocities and must be used with caution for objects with high relative speeds.

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