Doppler effect with 2 sound sources

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two moving sound sources: a bat chasing a fly, with the bat emitting a sound frequency and the fly also hearing a sound from a stationary source. The context is the Doppler effect and how it affects the perceived frequencies by the fly.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the frequencies heard by the fly from both the bat and the stationary source, using the Doppler effect equations. Some participants question the setup of the equations, particularly regarding the denominators used in the calculations.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the calculations and assumptions made in the original post. There is a suggestion to reconsider the denominator in the equation for the frequency from the bat, indicating a productive direction in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the fly's length, which the original poster assumes is not needed for the calculations. The frequency of the stationary source is also noted, with some uncertainty about its value.

papanik
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Homework Statement


A fly is moving with a speed vl=3m/s and a bat is chasing it with vs=5m/s. The bat is emitting a sound with fs=50kHz. They are moving on the same line towards point C which is a source emitting a sound at f'=57Hz. Find the frequency of the total sound the fly is hearing. The fly has a length of 2mm.


Homework Equations


Doppler effect equation


The Attempt at a Solution


The fly is hearing from the bat a sound at a frequency f1=(v-vl)*fs/(v+vs)=50.3kHz approximately
The fly is also hearing a sound from source C f2=(v+vl)*f'/v=57.5Hz
where v=343m/s speed of sound
The frequency of the sound the bat is emitting is not influenced by source C and vice versa.
Since f1>>f2 the fly will hear two different sounds with discrete frequency
The length of the fly i assume that it is not needed in the calculations
 
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Hi,
Since the bat is moving towards the fly, in the equation for f1 the denominator should be (v-vs). Other than that everything is OK..
 
Thank you
 
papanik said:
They are moving on the same line towards point C which is a source emitting a sound at f'=57Hz. Find the frequency of the total sound the fly is hearing.
Are you sure that's not 57kHz?
 

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