January 21, 2018

Doppler shift underwater

DOPPLER SHIFT UNDERWATER


INTRODUCTION

We know that Doppler Effect or Doppler shift occurs between a source and observer when they are in relative motion with respect to each other. In this case we’ll determine the Doppler shift that occurs when a dolphin is moving toward a stationary submarine underwater. Consider a dolphin emitting ultrasound moving at a speed of 8.3 mph [13.28 kmph] and approaching an observer who is inside a stationary submarine. We’ll determine the apparent frequency of dolphin as registered by the observer in the submarine.

ASSUMPTIONS

1. Water has standard temperature and pressure conditions
·         Temperature T = 298 K or 25°C or 77°F
·         Pressure = 1 bar = 105 N/m2
2. The effect of pressure is negligible
3. The amplitude of sound is unity
4. The water molecules do not move with respect to source and observer

CALCULATION

The equation for Doppler shift is given by,
f’ = f0*{[V ± Vo]/[V ± Vs]} (Eq. 1)     
f0 – Original frequency (Hz)
f’ – Apparent or observed frequency (Hz)
V – Velocity of Sound in water at standard temperature and pressure conditions {V = 1531 m/s}
Vo – Velocity of observer (m/s)
Vs – Velocity of Source [Dolphin] (m/s)

Since the observer is stationary,
Vo = 0 (Eq. 2)

Substitute equation (2) in equation (1),
f’ = f0*{[V]/[V – Vs]} (Eq. 3)

The ‘–’ sign in the denominator of equation (3) indicates that the source is approaching the observer.

The velocity of Dolphin Vo = 8.3 mph
                                            = 3.68 m/s (Eq. 4)

Frequency of Dolphin’s sound f0 = 10000 Hz (Eq. 5)
Speed of sound in water V = 1531 m/s (Eq. 6)

Substitute equations (4), (5) and (6) in equation (3),
f’ = 10000*{1531/[1531 – 3.68]}
f’ = 10024.09 Hz

This is the frequency of sound as registered by the stationary observer in the submarine when a dolphin emitting ultrasound approaches him.

Difference in frequency = f’ – f0
                                       = 10024.09 – 10000
                                       = 24.09 Hz

CONCLUSION

We thus determined the apparent frequency as registered by the observer due to Doppler shift.

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