Doppler Effect in Accelerating Frames vs Normal Doppler Effect

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the differences between the normal Doppler effect, which occurs at constant relative speeds, and the Doppler effect in accelerated frames where the light source is accelerating relative to the observer. It highlights that in accelerated frames, the frequency shift becomes time-dependent and is influenced by initial velocity and acceleration. The conversation emphasizes the need to consider relativistic effects when dealing with light, especially at high velocities approaching the speed of light. The gravitational equivalence principle is mentioned as a way to understand how acceleration affects the frequency and wavelength of light, resulting in redshift and blueshift phenomena. Overall, the impact of acceleration on the Doppler effect is significant and requires a relativistic approach for accurate analysis.
Hydr0matic
Messages
196
Reaction score
1
What is the difference in magnitude between the effects of normal doppler effect and doppler effect in accelerated frames, e.g. when the (light)source is accelerating wrt the observer? What is the formula for doppler effect in accelerating frames?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hydr0matic said:
What is the difference in magnitude between the effects of normal doppler effect and doppler effect in accelerated frames, e.g. when the (light)source is accelerating wrt the observer? What is the formula for doppler effect in accelerating frames?

What do you mean by normal Doppler effect ?

When velocity of source/observer is not constant, the shift in frequence will be time dependent. It is expressed by the v-formula that depends on time, initial velocity and acceleration.



marlon
 
By normal I mean with constant relative speed.
Since we are dealing with light and spacetime I just assumed that, like in relativity, accelerated frames behave differently.
http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/phys/doppler.htm
Relativity must be taken into account for the optical Doppler effect, since light, with its velocity of c, is an essentially relativistic object.
Surely, doppler shift from a lightsource with relativistic and extremely accelerating speed isn't governed by the classical doppler formula?
 
Hydr0matic said:
By normal I mean with constant relative speed.

This can be both the "classical" version or the relativistic version of the Doppler effect, depending on how close this velocity is to c.

Surely, doppler shift from a lightsource with relativistic and extremely accelerating speed isn't governed by the classical doppler formula?

Well, in the case of high velocities, the principles of special relativity need to be applied.

marlon
 
To see what effect acceleration has on the frequency/wavelength of light you can invoke Einstein's (gravitational) equivalence principle. Light from a massive object would be seen as red shifted by a distant observer and to an observer closer to the massive object light from a more distance source would be seen as blue shifted.
 
Thread 'Gauss' law seems to imply instantaneous electric field'
Imagine a charged sphere at the origin connected through an open switch to a vertical grounded wire. We wish to find an expression for the horizontal component of the electric field at a distance ##\mathbf{r}## from the sphere as it discharges. By using the Lorenz gauge condition: $$\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A} + \frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t}=0\tag{1}$$ we find the following retarded solutions to the Maxwell equations If we assume that...
I passed a motorcycle on the highway going the opposite direction. I know I was doing 125/km/h. I estimated that the frequency of his motor dropped by an entire octave, so that's a doubling of the wavelength. My intuition is telling me that's extremely unlikely. I can't actually calculate how fast he was going with just that information, can I? It seems to me, I have to know the absolute frequency of one of those tones, either shifted up or down or unshifted, yes? I tried to mimic the...
Back
Top