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A car moves at a constant velocity of 22 m.s⁻¹ on a straight horizontal road TOWARDS a stationary device, which can both emit and detect sound waves - NSC Physical Sciences - Question 6 - 2023 - Paper 1

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A car moves at a constant velocity of 22 m.s⁻¹ on a straight horizontal road TOWARDS a stationary device, which can both emit and detect sound waves. The device emi... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A car moves at a constant velocity of 22 m.s⁻¹ on a straight horizontal road TOWARDS a stationary device, which can both emit and detect sound waves - NSC Physical Sciences - Question 6 - 2023 - Paper 1

Step 1

State the Doppler effect in words.

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Answer

The Doppler effect is the apparent change in frequency (or pitch) of a sound detected by a listener, due to the relative motion between a source of sound and the observer. As the source approaches the observer, the frequency appears to increase, and as it moves away, the frequency appears to decrease.

Step 2

If the speed of sound in air is 340 m.s⁻¹, calculate the frequency of the reflected sound waves detected by the device.

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Answer

To calculate the frequency of the reflected sound waves detected by the device, we use the Doppler effect formula. The formula for the observed frequency is:

fl=fsv+vLvvsf_l = f_s \frac{v + v_L}{v - v_s}

Where:

  • flf_l is the observed frequency.
  • fsf_s is the source frequency = 24000 Hz.
  • vv is the speed of sound = 340 m.s⁻¹.
  • vLv_L is the velocity of the listener (device) = 0 m.s⁻¹ (since the device is stationary).
  • vsv_s is the velocity of the source (car) = 22 m.s⁻¹.

Substituting the values:

fl=24000340+034022f_l = 24000 \frac{340 + 0}{340 - 22} fl=24000340318f_l = 24000 \frac{340}{318} Calculating further gives: fl25225.68 Hzf_l \approx 25225.68 \text{ Hz}

Thus, the frequency of the reflected sound waves detected by the device is approximately 25226 Hz.

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