Estimating Doppler Shift for a Radio Wave

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on estimating the Doppler shift for a radio wave reflected from an airplane moving towards the observer at a speed of 292 m/s, with a frequency of 9.7x10^6 Hz. The formula used, fo = fv/(v − vt), was initially applied incorrectly, leading to an erroneous result of 1.9e5 Hz. Participants emphasized the complexity of calculating shifts from moving reflectors and suggested further reading on the Doppler effect for clarity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Doppler effect and its equations
  • Familiarity with radio wave frequency calculations
  • Basic knowledge of physics related to motion and waves
  • Ability to manipulate algebraic equations for problem-solving
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Doppler effect in detail using resources like HyperPhysics
  • Learn about the specific applications of the Doppler shift in radar technology
  • Explore advanced calculations involving moving reflectors in wave physics
  • Review the derivation and application of the Doppler shift formula in various contexts
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics, engineers working with radar technology, and anyone interested in understanding wave behavior in motion will benefit from this discussion.

Covenant32
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Homework Statement



Estimate the Doppler shift for a radio wave reflected from an airplane moving directly toward you at a speed of 292 m/s. Assume the radio wave has a frequency of 9.7x10^6 Hz.

Homework Equations



fo = fv/(v − vt)


The Attempt at a Solution



Using the above equation I got 1.9e5 Hz. But, that is incorrect. Am I not using the correct equation?
 
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Thanks, Delphi. In my textbook, doppler shift is covered 2 pages, and thus of little use.
 

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