Doppler Effect Simulation
Moving source compresses/stretches waves
Notice how waves compress ahead of the moving source and stretch behind it — this is the Doppler Effect. Higher speeds create more dramatic compression.
What Is Doppler Effect?
This simulation visualizes how wavefront spacing changes when a source moves through a medium. The source emits circular wavefronts at a fixed rate, but motion compresses the wavefronts in front and stretches them behind.
What To Observe
- Front-side wavefronts bunch together as source speed increases.
- Behind the source, wavelength increases and the pattern spreads out.
- Changing the emission frequency changes how dense the wavefronts appear overall.
Related Simulations
Double Slit Experiment Wave interference creates bright/dark patterns Single-Slit Diffraction Diffraction envelope and fringe spreading through one slit Standing Waves Normal modes and nodes on a string with fixed ends Beats Envelope modulation from superposition of close frequencies Resonance Driven oscillator resonance peak and response amplitude Wave Reflection Fixed/free/partial boundary reflections and transmission Constructive & Destructive Interference Phase-dependent addition of two same-frequency waves Sonic Boom / Mach Cone Wavefronts and Mach cone geometry for supersonic motion Ripple Tank Multi-source wave interference visualization Fourier Synthesis Build complex waveforms by summing harmonics Wave Polarization Linear, circular, and elliptical polarization states Huygens' Principle Secondary wavelets form advancing wavefronts through apertures Chladni Patterns Nodal line patterns on vibrating plates
Try These Experiments
- Set a low frequency and high speed to exaggerate compression.
- Compare the pattern at low speed vs high speed while keeping frequency fixed.
- Pause and explain where an observer would measure higher vs lower apparent frequency.
Real-World Applications
- Radar and lidar speed measurement
- Astronomy redshift/blueshift intuition
- Sirens and moving sound sources