Doppler Shift (Noun)
Meaning
Change in the apparent frequency of a wave as observer and source move toward or away from each other.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- The siren on the ambulance produced a noticeable Doppler shift as it sped past the stationary observer, its pitch changing from high to low in an instant.
- Astronomers use the Doppler shift to measure the velocity of stars and other celestial objects, determining whether they are approaching or receding from Earth.
- The police officer measured the Doppler shift of the speeding car's radar signal to calculate its velocity and determine whether it was indeed exceeding the speed limit.
- As the train hurtled past the platform, the Doppler shift caused the whistle to change pitch, creating a distinctive descending tone.
- Scientists utilize the Doppler shift to study the motion of galaxies within galaxy clusters, shedding light on the large-scale structure of the universe.