## 2D Doppler Shift / Relative Velocities

Hi,

I'm trying to adapt the doppler shift formula for a stationary listener and a source traveling in a straight line towards/away from the listener to the case where the source does not move straight towards the listener. For example, suppose that I am looking north and train further in the distance moves from west to east.

The frequency factor in the 1D case is $\frac{v}{v - 333m/s}$. The only thing that changes in the 2D case is that we can't no longer use the absolute velocity v of the source, but have to use the relative velocity with respect to the listener. But this is where I'm stuck: How do I compute this relative velocity when the listener is stationary? Wouldn't that mean that v$_{rel}$ = v$_{abs}$ - 0 = v$_{abs}$? That obviously can't be true.

Thanks,
Alex
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 Recognitions: Gold Member Please check on how air intercept missiles perform their mission using the target's line of sight rate change, along with the doppler shift. Hope this textbook helps explain the process: http://books.google.com/books?id=NVE...20rate&f=false Cheers, Bobbywhy

 Tags doppler shift

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