Doppler Effect
Definition
The Doppler Effect refers to the change in frequency and wavelength of a wave when either the source of the wave or the observer is in motion relative to each other. This causes a shift in pitch or frequency perception for sound waves.
Analogy
Imagine you are standing on a sidewalk, and a car drives past you at high speed while honking its horn. As the car approaches you, you hear a higher-pitched sound, but as it moves away from you, the sound becomes lower-pitched. This change in pitch is similar to how the Doppler Effect works with sound waves.
Related terms
Frequency: The number of complete cycles or oscillations per second that a wave completes. It determines the pitch of a sound.
Wavelength: The distance between two corresponding points on a wave (crest to crest or trough to trough). It affects both pitch and timbre of a sound.
Pitch: How high or low we perceive a sound to be based on its frequency.
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