What Are the Highest and Lowest Frequencies Heard Due to the Doppler Effect?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the highest and lowest frequencies perceived due to the Doppler effect for a speaker emitting sound at 420 Hz, mounted on a block with a mass of 44 kg and a spring constant of 17.0 N/m. The speed of sound is given as 343 m/s. The participants calculated the frequencies to be 449.27 Hz and 394.36 Hz, but these results were approximately 10% off from the expected values. The correct application of the Doppler effect formula, specifically [v/(v (+ or -) vs)]*f, is crucial for accurate results.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Doppler effect and its mathematical representation
  • Familiarity with basic physics concepts such as mass, spring constants, and amplitude
  • Knowledge of sound wave properties, including frequency and speed of sound
  • Ability to manipulate equations and solve for variables in physics problems
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the Doppler effect calculations for moving sources and observers
  • Study the impact of amplitude and mass on frequency perception
  • Learn about the relationship between spring constants and oscillation in mechanical systems
  • Explore practical applications of the Doppler effect in real-world scenarios, such as radar and astronomy
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on wave mechanics and the Doppler effect, as well as educators seeking to clarify concepts related to sound frequency and motion.

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Doppler effect homework problem help (still lost)

Homework Statement



A block with a speaker bolted to it is connected to a spring having spring constant k = 17.0 N/m, as in Figure P17.40. The total mass of the block and speaker is 44.00 kg, and the amplitude of this unit's motion is 0.475 m. Assume that the speed of sound is 343 m/s.


(a) If the speaker emits sound waves of frequency 420 Hz, determine the highest and lowest frequencies heard by the person to the right of the speaker to the nearest 0.01 Hz.

Homework Equations


d = mg/k
vs = gt
[v/(v (+ or -) vs)]*f


The Attempt at a Solution



When my friend and I were working on this, here's what we did:
Got variables:
k = 17N/m
mass = 44kg
amplitude = .475m
v = 343m/s
freq = 420Hz
I = 1000Hz

Our way of solving was using k = mg/d and solving for d.
d = mg/17
d = 25.36 = 1/2 * 9.8 * t^2
t = 2.28


From here, we used the formula [v/(v (+ or -) vs)]*f.

My answers are 449.27 Hz and 394.36 Hz
Now, here's the problem, our answers end up being within 10% but we have no idea what we did wrong and any ideas as to how to get the correct answer from here. Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Last edited:
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Is there something I'm missing that is causing my answer to be about 10% off?
 

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