Question

Two train whistles have identical frequencies of 180 Hz. When one train is at rest in the station and the other is moving nearby, a commuter standing on the train platform hears beats with a frequency of 2.00 beats/s when the whistles sound at the same time. What are the two possible speeds and directions that the moving train can have?

Actual answers :3.85 m/s away from the station and 3.77 m/s towards the station from the book. I just need to know how to get to the answers.

Answer 1

-3.77 m/s

3.85 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

given that

Frequency at stationary = 180 Hz

Beat frequency = 2 Hz

Using Doppler effect, we know that

f' = f[(v ± v0) / (v ± vs)], where

v = speed of sound, 343 m/s

v0 = speed of the observer, 0

vs = speed of light, ?

f = stationary frequency, 180 Hz

f' = stationary ± beat frequency, 180 ± 2

Applying the formula, we have

f' = f[(v ± v0) / (v ± vs)]

182 = 180 [(343 + 0) / (343 + vs)]

182/180 = 343 / 343 + vs

343 + vs = 343 * 180/182

343 + vs = 339.23

vs = 339.23 - 343

vs = -3.77 m/s

Again, using

f' = f[(v ± v0) / (v ± vs)]

178 = 180 [(343 + 0) / (343 + vs)]

178/180 = 343 / 343 + vs

343 + vs = 343 * 180/178

343+ vs = 346.85

vs = 346.85 - 343

vs = 3.85 m/s