Question

Three radio-equipped plumbing vans are broadcasting on the same frequency f0. Van 1 is moving east of van 2 with speed v, van 2 is fixed, and van 3 is moving west of van 2 with speed v. What is the frequency of each van as received by the others?

Answer 1

The frequency of the sound waves received by each van will be affected by their relative velocities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The frequency of a sound wave heard by an observer is affected by the relative motion between the source of the sound and the observer. This effect is known as the Doppler effect.

In the given scenario, van 1 is moving east of van 2, and van 3 is moving west of van 2. Since they are on the same frequency f0, the frequency of the sound waves received by each van will be affected by their relative velocities.

If van 1 is moving towards van 2, the frequency heard by van 2 will be higher than f0 due to the Doppler effect. Similarly, if van 3 is moving away from van 2, the frequency heard by van 2 will be lower than f0.