2007-06-02 03:17:28 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
No, the "something" maintains the same frequency. It is the compression of the waves in front of the "something" that makes it appear that the frequency is higher when you are in a fixed position, and the "something" is moving towards you.
The same when the "something" is moving away from you, except now the waves are decompressed, and appear to be lower in frequency.
The apparent change in frequency is called the Doppler effect.
2007-06-02 03:28:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not physically, it just appears that way. The source, be it a light or sound source, still maintains it's original frequency, but the velocity of the object towards you compresses the wave-front and the source appears to have a higher frequency. Likewise, if the object is travelling away from you the wave-front is stretched and thus the frequency appears to be lower.
2007-06-04 08:19:25 · answer #2 · answered by Timbo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the frequency increases. You can imagine it happening, as the object moves towards you it "squashes" the sound waves in front of it, like a car driving through barriers. It forces each barrier together. This is the same as the waves in the medium of whatever the waves are travelling in. The closer the waves are together, the higher the frequency.
2007-06-02 17:51:09 · answer #3 · answered by Mike T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Doppler effect means that as the object making the sound is coming towards you, the sound waves get shorter and shorter making it sound high pitched. if it is travelling away the sine waves become stretched making the sound appear to be getting lower.
So the frequency is always the same, its your perception that is different.
I dont know how i know this, i hope i did'nt just make it up.
2007-06-02 10:25:06 · answer #4 · answered by shinarocka 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
this is called the doppler effect when v=f x wavelength
so if the frequency is high the wavelength is smaller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppler_effect
so if youre standing near to the source it is louder than if youre standingaway
sound dissipates as it gets further away
and energy is lost like an object hitting water
so it will appear higher near to you and lower as it moves away
2007-06-02 11:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by ~*tigger*~ ** 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no. No, the frequency doesn't change, but you hear (or see) an 'apparent' change in frequency (or wavelength) caused by relative motion between yourself and the source. It's called 'Doppler Shift' and it's at the heart of the police 'Radar Guns' âº
Doug
2007-06-02 10:23:49 · answer #6 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes - as displayed by the Doppler effect.
2007-06-02 10:21:16 · answer #7 · answered by mactheboat 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, but it makes a hell of a racket when it hits you.....
2007-06-02 10:20:52 · answer #8 · answered by stoutseun69 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋