Doppler effect with non-collinear source and observer motion

[undividable]

how does the doppler effect work when the observer and source are not moving in a straight line, what do we take in as the velocity of the observer and the source in the doppler effect equation?

 

[Ibix]

What do you think?

Given the physics of what's going on there's only one plausible answer as far as I can see.

 

[undividable]

is it the velocity component that is parallel to the direction of the propagation of the wave?

 

[Ibix]

Correct. You need to take care about what direction the wave is traveling because where the receiver is when it receives a pulse is not where it was when it was emitted (which can get messy if the receiver is accelerating). As long as you remember about leading a moving target when you set up your maths, you're fine.