If a wind is blowing, will this alter the frequency of the sound heard by a person at rest with respect to the source? Is the wavelength or velocity changed?

Short Answer

Expert verified

If the wind is blowing but the listener is at rest concerning the source, the listener will not hear a Doppler effect.

The wavelength of the sound waves will be increased by the same percentage that the wind speed is relative to the still-air speed of sound.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Doppler Effect

When a sound source is moving toward an observer, the pitch that the observer hears is higher than when the source is at rest. And when the source is traveling away from the observer, the pitch is lower. This phenomenon is known as the Doppler Effect, and it occurs for all types of waves.

02

Detailed Explanation

We analyze the case of the wind blowing from the source toward the listener. The moving air (wind) has the same effect as if the speed of sound had been increased by an amount equal to the wind speed. The wavelength of the sound waves (the distance that a wave travels during one period) will be increased by the same percentage that the wind speed is relative to the still-air speed of sound.

Since the frequency is the speed divided by the wavelength, the frequency does not change, so there is no Doppler effect to hear.

Alternatively, the wind has the same effect as if the air were not moving, but the source and listener were moving at the same speed in the same direction. Finally, since there is no relative motion between the source and the listener, there is no Doppler shift.

Hence, the wavelength of the sound waves will be increased by the same percentage that the wind speed is relative to the still-air speed of sound.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Question: Each string on a violin is tuned to a frequency \({\bf{1}}\frac{{\bf{1}}}{{\bf{2}}}\) times that of its neighbor. The four equal-length strings are to be placed under the same tension; what must be the mass per unit length of each string relative to that if the lowest string?

Question: Two loudspeakers are at opposite ends of a railroad car as it moves past a stationary observer at\({\bf{12}}{\bf{.0}}\,{\bf{m/s}}\), as shown in Fig. 12–41. If the speakers have identical sound frequencies of \({\bf{348}}\,{\bf{Hz}}\), what is the beat frequency heard by the observer when (a) he listens from position A, in front of the car, (b) he is between the speakers, at B, and (c) he hears the speakers after they have passed him, at C?

Fig. 12-41

Determine the fundamental and first overtone frequencies when you are in a \({\bf{9}}{\bf{.0 - m}}\) long hallway with all doors closed. Model the hallway as a tube closed at both ends.

Question: A tuning fork is set into vibration above a vertical open tube filled with water (Fig 12-40). The water level is allowed to drop slowly. As it does so, the air in the tube above the water level is heard to resonate with the tuning fork when the distance from the tube opening to the water level is 0.125 m and again at 0.395 m. What is the frequency of the tuning fork?

FIGURE 12–40 Problem 79.

Question: (II) An unfingered guitar string is 0.68 m long and is tuned to play E above middle C (330 Hz). (a) How far from the end of this string must a fret (and your finger) be placed to play A above middle C (440 Hz)? (b) What is the wavelength on the string of this 440-Hz wave? (c) What are the frequency and wavelength of the sound wave produced in air at 22°C by this fingered string?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free