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VROOOOOOOMMMM! The change in pitch when a car speeds by, first higher (when approaching) then lower (when receding).

The Doppler effect is the term we give to the apparent change in frequency of waves (often light or sound waves) as the distance between the source and the observer changes. If either the source or the observer of a wave is moving so that the effect is that they are getting farther apart or closer together, the Doppler effect will appear. Let's look more closely.

If the distance between the observer and the source of a wave is decreasing because they are closing in on each other, something happens. The wave, which is normally characterized by a given frequency and an associated wavelength, will appear to increase in frequency (and decrease in wavelength). Let's get even closer and break it down a bit to see what happens.

When a wave reaches at an observer, it has a given wavelength. If there is no change in the distance between that observer and the source that wavelength remains constant. But if the distance of separation is decreasing (say if the sensor - observer - moves towards the source 8motion is relative so it does not matter which of the source or sensor moves relative to any frame of reference), as the crests and troughs of the wave arrive the observer will be (apparently) "running towards the next peak or trough" of the wave. This makes the wave appear to have a shorter wavelength. The observer is "running to intercept" the oncoming wave and the next crest or trough will "arrive sooner" because of the relative motion. This gives the effect of a change of frequency of the wave, and it makes it appear higher in frequency (with an accompanying shorter wavelength).

If there is no change in distance between the source and the observer, the wave has a given wavelength. When a crest of the wave arrives at the observer's position, it takes "x" amount of time for the next crest to arrive. That's the period of the wave, or the time it takes for one complete cycle of the wave to occur. If the source and/or observer are/is moving relative to one another and the distance is closing, the "next crest" will "arrive sooner" and the period of the wave is effectively reduced. A shorter period of a wave equates to a higher frequency and a shorter wavelength. As the distance between the observer and the source opens, the opposite effect can be seen. Doppler effect isn't too tough to get a handle on if you work with it and think it through.

If you've ever stood beside a roadway (or railroad track) with a vehicle (or train) coming toward you at speed, it has a given pitch (frequency). As it passes and moves away, the pitch (frequency) goes down. Simple and easy to observe. In astronomy, we note that the colors of stars in very distant galaxies are "wrong" as we observe them, but by "shifting the frequency" to increase it, they take on their "correct" colors. (*We know the "correct" colors due to the obvious pattern of spectral lines which the elements in a star have. The distant galaxies are moving away from us, and the light they emit is lower in frequency as we observe it than it would be if we were not moving apart. That light has been shifted toward the lower end of the optical spectrum, which is toward the red end. This is red shift, or the so-called redshift (one word) you hear about in astrophysics.

Need a link for more information? Look below and you'll find some.
When pitch rises as sound approackes then drops as the source passes by example: sirens

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What exactly is the Doppler effect?

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