Doppler effect

Understandings:

• The Doppler effect for sound waves and light waves

Applications and skills:

• Sketching and interpreting the Doppler effect when there is relative motion between source and observer
• Describing situations where the Doppler effect can be utilized
• Solving problems involving the change in frequency or wavelength observed due to the Doppler effect to determine the velocity of the source/observer

Guidance:

• For electromagnetic waves, the approximate equation should be used for all calculations
• Situations to be discussed should include the use of Doppler effect in radars and in medical physics, and its significance for the red-shift in the light spectra of receding galaxies