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Doppler, Christian Andreas

Doppler, Christian Andreas

This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Tom Lawrence

Christian Andreas Doppler (1803-1853), Austrian physicist who first described how the observed frequency of light and sound waves is affected by the relative motion of the source and the detector, a phenomenon now known as the Doppler effect (1842). Doppler postulated that sound waves would have a higher frequency if the source were moving toward the observer and a lower frequency if the source were moving away from the observer. A common example is a train’s whistle that has a higher pitch than normal when the train approaches, and a lower pitch after it passes. The Doppler effect applies to all types of waves, including light. Edwin Hubble, for example, used the Doppler effect to determine that the universe is expanding.

Further Reading
Christian Doppler (christian-doppler.org)
Doppler Biography (University of St. Andrews, Scotland, School of Mathematics and Statistics)
National Doppler Radar Sites (NOAA National Weather Service)
The Doppler Effect (NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory)

Citation

Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Tom Lawrence (Topic Editor) "Doppler, Christian Andreas". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth December 21, 2006; Last revised Date December 21, 2006; Retrieved May 23, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Doppler,_Christian_Andreas>

The Author

Cutler J. Cleveland Cutler J. Cleveland  is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth.  He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)

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