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Chapter 16: Problem 51

Describe the sounds you would hear if a train passed you with its whistle blowing.

Short Answer

Expert verified
You would hear a high-pitched sound that gets louder, stays consistent when closest, then lowers in pitch and becomes quieter as the train passes.

Step by step solution

01

- Understand the Doppler Effect

The Doppler Effect explains that the frequency of a sound changes depending on the relative motion of the source and the listener. As the train approaches, the sound waves are compressed, leading to a higher pitch.
02

- Describe the Sound as the Train Approaches

As the train approaches, the whistle sound increases in pitch due to the Doppler Effect. You would hear a high-pitched whistle that gradually gets louder.
03

- Describe the Sound When the Train Is Closest

When the train is closest to you, the whistle reaches its highest volume, but the pitch remains consistent for a brief moment before the train starts to pass.
04

- Describe the Sound as the Train Moves Away

As the train moves away, the sound waves are stretched, leading to a lower pitch. You would hear the whistle sound lowering in pitch and gradually becoming quieter.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

sound frequency
Sound frequency refers to the number of sound waves that pass a point in one second. This is measured in Hertz (Hz). When a train blows its whistle, the whistle creates sound waves that travel through the air. As the number of waves hitting our ears per second changes, we experience changes in pitch. Higher frequencies result in a higher pitch, and lower frequencies result in a lower pitch. In the context of the Doppler Effect, the sound frequency changes as the train moves relative to the listener.
relative motion
Relative motion refers to the movement of the sound source (train) and the observer (you). The Doppler Effect occurs because of this relative motion. When the train approaches, both you and the source of the sound are moving closer together, compressing the sound waves. This compression increases the sound frequency, making the whistle sound higher in pitch. As the train moves away, the sound waves stretch out, decreasing the frequency and lowering the pitch.
pitch change
Pitch change is a key observation in the Doppler Effect. As the train approaches, the pitch of the whistle increases. This is because the frequency of the sound waves is increasing due to the compression caused by the relative motion. At the moment the train passes by, you hear the highest pitch, which then transitions to a lower pitch as the train moves away. This change is why you hear the whistle start with a high pitch and end with a lower pitch.
sound waves
Sound waves are vibrations that travel through the air, allowing us to hear different sounds. These waves have different properties, such as wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. The Doppler Effect influences these properties. When a train whistle is blown, the whistle generates sound waves that propagate outward. As the train moves closer, the sound waves compress, shortening their wavelength and increasing frequency. As the train recedes, the waves stretch out, increasing their wavelength and decreasing their frequency. This stretching and compressing of sound waves is what causes the pitch of the sound to change.

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