Sound and Doppler Effect Lecture Notes

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to sound, the Doppler Effect, and relevant physics principles discussed in lecture.

Chris0ne Concile Mann Darden

A NASA aerospace engineer known for her work in sonic boom reduction and as a character in the movie 'Hidden Figures.'

Doppler Shift

The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source.

Intensity

The power per unit area of sound, often measured in watts per square meter (W/m²).

Decibel (dB)

A logarithmic unit used to measure sound intensity relative to a reference level.

Mach Speed

A measure of speed relative to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium.

Frequency

The number of waves that pass a fixed point in unit time, often measured in Hertz (Hz).

Supersonic

Speed that exceeds the speed of sound in the given medium.

Thunder

The sound produced by the rapid expansion of air when it is heated by a lightning strike.

Aerospace Engineering

A field of engineering focused on the development of aircraft and spacecraft.

Sonic Boom

A loud explosive noise caused by the shock wave from an object traveling faster than the speed of sound.

Shock Wave

A disturbance moving through a medium, characterized by a sudden change in pressure, temperature, and density.

Wave Compression

The reduction of the distance between wavefronts leading to increased wave frequency.

Wave Stretching

The increase in distance between wavefronts leading to decreased wave frequency.

Reflected Wave

A wave that rebounds off a surface or object.

Joules

A unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI) used to measure work done.

Power (in sound context)

The rate at which sound energy is transferred, typically measured in watts (W).

Human Hearing Range

The range of sound frequencies that the average human can hear, approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

Doppler Formula

The equation used to calculate the observed frequency of a wave based on the motion of the source and observer.

Molecular Shock Cone

A cone-shaped formation of compressed waves in the air created when an object travels faster than the speed of sound.

Blueish Cherenkov Radiation

The light emitted when charged particles travel faster than the speed of light in a given medium.