DOPPLER EFFECT EXAMPLE 2

When you are just sitting at a red traffic light, its light has a wavelength of about 6500 Ångstroms. How fast would you have to be approaching the traffic signal, in miles per hour, in your car in order for the red light to appear green (wavelength 5000 Ångstroms)? Treat the speed of light as 186,000 miles per second.

STEP 1

The first step is always to write out the data. Find the information you need in the problem and write it down. You do not need to look any actual numbers up! When you finish that, click here to move on to Step 2.

Updated 8/27/99

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