Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
The Doppler Effect
16 practice questions
Practice questions
1–10 of 16
Question 1
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State what is meant by the Doppler effect.
Question 2
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A cyclist rings their bell while moving past a group of people standing on the pavement.
Describe how the sound of the bell changes as the cyclist moves towards, and then away from, the group.
Question 3
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Complete the sentence: The Doppler effect applies to _______ types of waves.
Question 4
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Consider a moving car sounding its horn.
(a)[1 mark]Describe what happens to the spacing of the sound wavefronts in front of the moving car.
(b)[2 marks]Explain how the change in wavefront spacing affects the pitch (frequency) of the sound heard by an observer in front of the car.
Question 5
1 mark · Easy
Answer and check →Which effect will a stationary observer notice when a sound source moves away from them at high speed?
- A.The sound increases in frequency (higher pitch).
- B.The sound decreases in frequency (lower pitch).
- C.The sound remains at the same frequency.
- D.The sound waves are reflected back.
Question 6
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State whether the wavelength of waves increases or decreases in the direction a source is moving.
Question 7
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The diagram below shows wavefronts produced by a stationary and a moving sound source.
Sound waves from stationary and moving sources (a)[1 mark]Identify which set of wavefronts shows the effect of movement.
(b)[2 marks]Explain how the spacing of these wavefronts demonstrates the Doppler effect.
Question 8
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Name one type of wave, other than sound, that can demonstrate the Doppler effect.
Question 9
1 mark · Normal
Answer and check →Which statement best describes the Doppler effect?
- A.It is the apparent change in frequency of a wave due to the movement of the source.
- B.It describes the reflection of waves at a boundary.
- C.It is the process of splitting white light into its component colours.
- D.It explains why sound cannot travel through a vacuum.
Question 10
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Describe what happens to the wavelength and frequency of sound waves ahead of a car as it moves towards a stationary observer.