Final answer:
The train operator should stop the train and request assistance to fix an inoperative whistle, following safety protocols. The frequencies observed by a stationary person will vary due to the Doppler effect, and the train's engineer hears the actual frequency of the whistle. For a whistle heard at 305 Hz when the train moves away, the actual frequency is approximately 351 Hz.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a train whistle becomes inoperative en route, the train operator should take appropriate safety measures. While the specific response can vary by railway regulations, typically, the train should not continue on the journey without a working whistle, as it is crucial for signaling and safety. Therefore, options 1 and 3 from the list would not be the standard procedures. The ideal steps an operator should take involve: stopping the train in a safe manner, if possible, to fix the whistle (option 2); and requesting assistance from the maintenance team to rectify the issue (option 4). It's essential that safety protocols are followed to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including the passengers and the train crew.
For the physics part of the question, using the Doppler effect:
- (a) The frequencies observed by a stationary person at the side of the tracks will be higher as the train approaches and lower after it passes due to the relative motion between the source of the sound (train whistle) and the observer.
- (b) The frequency observed by the train's engineer traveling on the train will be the actual frequency of the whistle since there is no relative motion between the source and the observer.
Regarding the additional physics problem provided, if a train is moving away from you at a speed of 50.0 m/s and you hear the whistle at a frequency of 305 Hz, the actual frequency of the produced whistle can be calculated using the Doppler effect formula:
f' = f / (1 + v/vs)
Where f' is the heard frequency (305 Hz), f is the actual frequency, v is the speed of the train (50.0 m/s), and vs is the speed of sound (331 m/s). Solving for f gives the actual frequency as:
f = f' * (1 + v/vs) = 305 Hz * (1 + 50 / 331) = approximately 351 Hz (option d).