1. What is the Doppler Shift Equation?

The Doppler shift equation relates the change in frequency (Δf) of a wave to the relative velocity (v) between the source and observer. It's widely used in radar, medical ultrasound, astronomy, and other fields where motion detection is important.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Doppler shift equation:

Where:

• \( v \) — Relative velocity (m/s)
• \( \Delta f \) — Doppler shift (Hz)
• \( f \) — Original frequency (Hz)
• \( c \) — Speed of the wave (m/s)

Explanation: The equation shows that the velocity is proportional to the ratio of frequency shift to original frequency, multiplied by the wave's propagation speed.

3. Applications of Doppler Shift

Details: Doppler shift calculations are essential in weather radar systems, police speed guns, medical blood flow measurements, astronomical redshift observations, and aviation systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the frequency shift (Δf) in Hz, original frequency (f) in Hz, and wave speed (c) in m/s. For electromagnetic waves, the default speed of light (299,792,458 m/s) is pre-filled.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between redshift and blueshift?
A: Redshift occurs when objects move away (increasing wavelength), blueshift when moving toward (decreasing wavelength).

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This is the classical Doppler formula. For relativistic speeds (approaching light speed), the relativistic Doppler formula should be used.

Q3: Can this be used for sound waves?
A: Yes, just use the speed of sound (343 m/s in air at 20°C) instead of the speed of light.

Q4: What's the maximum measurable velocity?
A: For the classical formula, there's no strict maximum, but results become inaccurate as v approaches c (speed of light).

Q5: Why is the speed of wave important?
A: Different waves (sound, light, radio) travel at different speeds, which affects how frequency shifts translate to velocity.