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Learning Introductory Physics with Activities

Section 17.9 The Doppler Effect

Subsubsection Activities

Activity 17.9.1. The Airplane and the Balloon.

Suppose an airplane is flying near a stationary balloon floating in the distance.
(a)
How fast is the airplane moving (and in what direction) if the airplane hears a frequency from the balloon that is 3/4 of what the balloon claims it should be?
(b)
How fast is the airplane moving (and in what direction) if the balloon hears a frequency from the airplane that is 3/4 of what the airplane claims it should be?
(c)
What happens if one object is moving at a speed equal to the speed of sound? Does your answer depend on which object is moving, or on which direction it is moving?