Can Emission Theory Produce Doppler-Shift Formula?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the compatibility of emission theories with the Doppler-shift formula in light of the velocity of light. Emission theories assert that light's velocity is influenced by the light source's velocity, proposing that light's speed in the ether frame is ##c+v##. In contrast, the Doppler effect maintains that light's speed remains constant at ##c##, regardless of the source's motion. The formula for the frequency of reflected light from a moving mirror, ##f=\frac{c+v}{c-v}f_o##, raises questions about the consistency of these theories, yet calculations show that both approaches yield the same results under specific conditions.

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Emission theories propose that the velocity of light depends on the velocity of the light source. But the ordinary Doppler effect assumes the velocity of light remains as ##c## with respect to the ether medium, even when the light source is moving at speed ##v## with respect to the ether. They are saying different things, so how could they be consistent?

Explicitly, the original-source emission theory suggests that the velocity of light measured in the ether frame is ##c+v## when the source moves ahead at speed ##v## with respect to the ether, while the Doppler effect says the velocity of light is still ##c##.

Further, for a mirror moving at speed ##v## (with respect to the ether) towards a light source (stationary with respect to the ether), the Doppler effect gives the frequency of the reflected light as ##f=\frac{c+v}{c-v}f_o##, where ##f_o## is the frequency of the incident light. I don't understand how the original-source emission theory could come up with the same formula.

Explanations of the various emission theories are in the text below.

Source: Introduction to Special Relativity by Robert Resnick
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Just compute the travel of two wave crests under the assumptions of the original emission theory as you quoted it. You readily arrive at the SR correct formula. Note that this analysis is the same as for SR in the emitter frame.
 

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