Doppler Effect involving two moving objects

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves calculating the frequency heard by an observer in a truck as a police car approaches with its siren sounding at 500 Hz. The truck is moving at 36 m/s, and the police car is moving faster at 45 m/s, both in the same direction. The speed of sound is given as 343 m/s. The initial calculation attempted was incorrect because it did not properly account for the relative speeds of the two vehicles. Correctly applying the Doppler effect formula requires careful consideration of the signs for the velocities of the observer and the source.
sloane729
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Homework Statement


A truck moving at 36 m/s is overtaken by a police car moving at 45 m/s in the same direction. If the frequency of the siren relative to the police car is 500 Hz, what is the frequency heard by an observer in the truck as the police car approaches the truck? (The speed of sound in air is 343 m/s.)

Homework Equations


f'=(v+vo)/(v-vs)f

vo = velocity of the truck
vs = velocity of the police car

The Attempt at a Solution


I thought this would be a simple substitution problem but it's obviously not if I'm getting a different a wrong answer

f' = (343+36)/(343-45)(500) = 636Hz (This is my answer which was marked wrong)

Please advise
 
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Think through the signs. The two vehicles do not have 36+45 m/s relative speed.
 
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