Calculating Frequency Using Doppler Effect Formula

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around applying the Doppler effect formula to calculate the frequency of sound emitted by a train moving towards an observer. The original poster presents a scenario involving a train traveling at 120 km/h and emitting a 400 Hz whistle, with the speed of sound provided as 340 m/s.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the correct application of the Doppler effect formula, questioning the setup and calculations presented by the original poster. There is a focus on the interpretation of variables and units in the formula, as well as the correct arithmetic to be performed.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on the original poster's calculations and questioning the clarity of their statements. Some participants express confusion over the setup and the use of units, while others attempt to clarify the formula and its application. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach yet, but multiple interpretations and corrections are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note discrepancies in the original poster's use of decimal points and the speed of sound, indicating a need for clarity in the problem setup. The original poster's reference to the formula being correct in their book is acknowledged, but the details of its application remain under scrutiny.

Dx
Using the doppler effect: formula: f'=f/(1-V_s/V_0)

A train traveling toward you at 120k/h. the train blows its 400Hz whistle. take the speed of sound to be 340m/s. what's the freq?

my developments so far...
400Hz/(1-(.340/.343ms)

how do i solve the setup is wrong?
 
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Originally posted by Dx
Using the doppler effect: formula: f'=f/[/color](1-V_s/V_0)

A train traveling toward you at 120k/h. the train blows its 400Hz whistle. take the speed of sound to be 340m/s. what's the freq?

my developments so far...
400Hz/(1-(.340/.343ms)

how do i solve the setup is wrong?

That should be * not /
 
I have no idea what "how do i solve the setup is wrong?" means- unless you are combining two sentences. Are you related to James Joyce?

However, you would complete the problem by just doing the arithmetic:
From the formula f'=f/(1-V_s/V_0)
you get f'= 440HZ/(1- 210/340) assuming that V_0 is the speed of sound and that V_s is the speed of the source of the sound.
(I might have been inclined to take V_s as the speed of Sound but if V_s> V_0 you get a negative number for f'!)

(you give "400Hz/(1-(.340/.343ms)" I don't know why you have the decimal points nor do I know where you got "343".)

Notice that since V_s and V_0 both have units of speed (m/sec), the units in the fraction V_s/V_0 cancel so that both it and the denominator 1- V_s/V_0 are "dimensionless". f' will have units of
Hz just like f.

I get that V_s/V_0= 120/340= 0.353 (I am taking three significant figures since the speeds are given to three significant figures.),
1- V_s/V_0= 1- 0.353= 0.647 and f'= 440/0.647= 525 Hz.
 
Try Again Ivy!

<<<I have no idea what "How do i solve? The setup is wrong?" means- unless you are combining two sentences. Are you related to James Joyce? Since we want to be corect here Ivy! :wink:

<<<(you give "400Hz/(1-(.340/.343ms)" I don't know why you have the decimal points nor do I know where you got "343".)

Let me enlighten you that .343 is equal to 343x10^-3m/s which is the spd of sound in air at 20 degrees C. I want you to also be corect since you could be related to Mr Amison my Biology teacher who know absolutely nada about science too.

<<<I get that V_s/V_0= 120/340= 0.353 (I am taking three significant figures since the speeds are given to three significant figures.),
1- V_s/V_0= 1- 0.353= 0.647 and f'= 440/0.647= 525 Hz.

Lastly, H.O.I., sir. I want to say i appreciate your response and help thus far but your answer is 100% incorrect. Thank You! Please don't respond to my threads unless your serious about helping me. Your intentions are sensere and noble but i want to learn this stuff, ok!

Thanks everyone! BTW...I double checked my formula is correct in the book.
Dx :wink:
 
yeah, my bad..i just saw that division sign and thought that was the problem, but i guess i just learned the formula as multiplying by the reciprocal..instead of your form..
 

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