Sound, Radio & InformationWave Physics

The Doppler Effect

Motion changes the pitch of sound and the color of light

A siren wails past and its note sags mid-howl: neee-yowww. The siren never changed its tune. So who bent the note?

You'll find out

  • Why a passing siren changes its note
  • What the drop says about speed
  • What makes distant galaxies look red

Why it matters

The same shift lets radar catch speeders, doctors watch blood flow, and astronomers see the universe expand.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 95 · Zone 11

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