Doppler Effect Calculator
Calculate how the pitch of a sound changes when the source, the listener or both are moving, using f′ = f (c ± v<sub>o</sub>) ÷ (c ∓ v<sub>s</sub>). You can also work backwards from a measured frequency to the speed of the source, for example a passing car or train horn.
Higher than f = approaching, lower = moving away
Fresh water ≈ 1,482 m/s, seawater ≈ 1,521 m/s
How to use the Doppler Effect Calculator
- Choose a mode: find the observed frequency, or find the source speed from two frequencies.
- Enter the source frequency in Hz (or kHz).
- Enter the speeds of the source and the observer, and whether each is moving toward or away from the other.
- Set the speed of sound with the air temperature, or type a speed for water or another medium.
- Read the observed frequency, the shift in Hz and cents, and the table for other speeds.
The Doppler effect formula
f′ = f × (c + vo) ÷ (c − vs)
f is the emitted frequency, f′ the frequency heard, c the speed of sound in the medium, vo the observer's speed toward the source and vs the source's speed toward the observer. Motion away from each other uses negative speeds.
| Situation | Formula | Example: 700 Hz, c = 343.2 m/s (20 °C), 25 m/s |
|---|---|---|
| Source approaching, observer still | f′ = f c ÷ (c − vs) | 755.0 Hz |
| Source receding, observer still | f′ = f c ÷ (c + vs) | 652.4 Hz |
| Observer approaching, source still | f′ = f (c + vo) ÷ c | 751.0 Hz |
| Observer receding, source still | f′ = f (c − vo) ÷ c | 649.0 Hz |
| Source speed from f′ (observer still) | vs = c (1 − f ÷ f′) | f′ = 755.0 Hz → 25 m/s |
Musical pitch and the Doppler shift
The pitch change in cents is 1200 × log₂(f′ ÷ f). Because it depends only on the ratio, every note of a passing car's sound shifts by the same musical interval. In 20 °C air an approaching source needs about 19.3 m/s (69 km/h, 43 mph) for a one-semitone rise, and the drop from approaching to receding reaches one semitone at only about 9.9 m/s (36 km/h).
The speed of sound in air is computed as c = 331.3 × √(1 + T ÷ 273.15) m/s. Only the component of motion along the line between source and observer counts; sideways motion causes no shift at the instant of closest approach.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Doppler effect formula for sound?
f′ = f × (c + v_o) ÷ (c − v_s), where f is the emitted frequency, c is the speed of sound, v_o is the observer's speed toward the source and v_s is the source's speed toward the observer. Use negative speeds (or choose 'away') for motion apart.
Why does a siren drop in pitch as it passes?
While the ambulance approaches, each wave crest is emitted a little closer to you, so the crests arrive more often (higher frequency). After it passes, the crests are stretched out and the pitch drops. A 700 Hz siren at 25 m/s (90 km/h) sounds about 755 Hz approaching and 652 Hz receding in 20 °C air.
Is it different if the observer moves instead of the source?
Yes, for sound the two cases are not symmetric because the air is the reference. A source approaching at speed v gives f × c ÷ (c − v), while an observer approaching at the same speed hears f × (c + v) ÷ c, which is slightly lower.
What happens when the source reaches the speed of sound?
The formula breaks down: the waves pile up into a shock wave (a sonic boom) and no sound reaches the observer ahead of the source. The calculator therefore only accepts source speeds below the speed of sound when approaching.
How can I find the speed of a car from its horn pitch?
If you know the true horn frequency f and measure f′ while it approaches a stationary listener, the speed is v_s = c × (1 − f ÷ f′). Use the reverse mode; a receding source (f′ lower than f) gives the speed moving away.
What is a cent?
A cent is 1/100 of a semitone on a musical scale. The shift in cents is 1200 × log₂(f′ ÷ f). A shift of 100 cents is one semitone, which a source approaching at about 19.3 m/s (69 km/h) produces in 20 °C air.
Does this work for light?
No. Light needs the relativistic Doppler formula because there is no medium and the speed of light is the same for every observer. For speeds much smaller than light, the shift is approximately f × v ÷ c.