Answer to Question #161977 in Optics for Samychou

Question

As you travel down the highway in your car, an ambulance approaches you from the rear at a high speed sounding its siren at a frequency of 500Hz . Which statement is correct?

(a) You hear a frequency less than 500Hz

(b) You hear a frequency equal to 500Hz

(c) You hear a frequency greater than

(d) You hear a frequency greater than 500Hz, whereas the ambulance driver hears a frequency lower than 500Hz

Answer 1

In our case the source (an ambulance) moving toward the observer (car), and according to the Doppler Effect, the observer will hear a frequency greater than 500 Hz. Therefore, the correct answer is (c).

Answer:

(c) You hear a frequency greater than 500 Hz.