Final answer:
A Formula 1 car demonstrates the Doppler effect with the sound it produces: as it moves towards an observer, the pitch is higher, and as it moves away, the pitch lowers. This change in sound frequency due to the car's motion is an example of a Doppler shift.
Step-by-step explanation:
A Formula 1 car demonstrates the Doppler effect through the change of pitch heard as it races past a stationary observer. As the car approaches, the sound waves it emits are compressed, resulting in a higher pitch. Conversely, as the car speeds away, the sound waves are stretched, leading to a lower pitch. This change in frequency is known as the Doppler shift. The phenomenon is named after Christian Johann Doppler, who extensively studied the effect using both moving sources and moving observers, such as musicians on a train.
The Doppler effect is not only observed in sound but can also be applied to light. However, the characteristic shift in frequency for fast-moving objects like racing cars, airplanes, and trains is commonly associated with sound. The shifts are more abrupt and pronounced the closer and faster the source moves relative to the observer, making a Formula 1 car an excellent example of this effect in action.