Swooshing noise as car drives near obstacles

[davidbenari]

As you drive with your windows open you can hear a sound due to some continuous stream of air that is hitting your face, or whatever. But why is it then, that when you drive past by some obstacle, like a tree, you hear a swooshing noise? What is causing this?

 

[jedishrfu]

Could be the car's own motor noise and air turbulance noise being imperfectly reflected from the tree back to you and acting like a doppler effect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppler_effect

 

[olivermsun]

Typically you're hearing tire, mechanical, and maybe some aero noise being reflected back to you. It's especially obvious when you drive next to a wall.

If you're driving close enough to a tree that your airflow is interacting noticeably with the tree, then you may want to back off a bit.

 

[sophiecentaur]

If you're driving close enough to a tree that your airflow is interacting noticeably with the tree, then you may want to back off a bit.

Very well put. I laughed.

 

[Borek]

You finally hear how noisy your car is.