Solve for the Speed of a Car Using Doppler Effect - Homework Question

AI Thread Summary
To solve for the speed of the car using the Doppler effect, the driver hears a frequency of either 152 Hz or 168 Hz due to the 8 beats per second caused by the car's horn at 160 Hz. The Doppler effect influences the frequency twice: first, as the car approaches the wall, increasing the frequency of the sound waves, and second, as the car moves towards the reflected waves. This dual influence must be accounted for to accurately determine the car's speed. The speed of sound is given as 343 m/s, which is essential for calculations. Understanding these principles is crucial for arriving at the correct solution.
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Homework Statement



A car speeds towards the outside wall with its horn sounding a frequency of 160 HZ. The sound waves reflected off the wall cause the driver to hear 8.0 beats per second. There is no wind and the speed of sound is 343 m/s. Find the speed of the car.


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The Attempt at a Solution



Well with the beats being 8, I've reckoned that the sound that the driver hears is either 152 or 168 HZ. But neither of those two frquencies lead me to the correct answer. I've thought that the frequency the driver hears should be 168 HZ because the freqquency goes up in situations like that.

What do you guys/girls think?
 
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You are correct about the beats meaning that he hears either 152 or 168 Hz reflecting back from the wall.
Don't forget, though, that the Doppler effect has influenced this value twice.
The speed of travel towards the wall has increased the frequency with which the sound waves strike the wall, and are reflected.
But the car then meets these reflected waves while, itself, traveling towards the wall.
Does this influence your result?
 
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