In the diagram, what is the stick figure in the road experiencing in terms of the Doppler effect?



a
Lower pitch sound due to a lower frequency
b
Consistent sound because the frequency stays the same
c
Higher pitch sound due to a higher frequency

1 answer

In the context of the Doppler effect, if the stick figure is stationary and a sound source (like a vehicle) is moving towards the figure, the stick figure will experience a higher pitch sound due to a higher frequency. Conversely, if the vehicle is moving away, the stick figure would experience a lower pitch sound due to a lower frequency.

Since your question does not specify the direction of the sound source, if we assume the sound source is approaching the stick figure, the correct answer would be:

c. Higher pitch sound due to a higher frequency.

If the sound source were moving away from the stick figure, the correct choice would be:

a. Lower pitch sound due to a lower frequency.

But based on the most common interpretation (approaching source), "c" is the appropriate choice.