same time.The fifth type of wave phenomena that we will look at is the Doppler effect.The Doppler effect is an observed change in frequency because of the velocity of the wave source. To observe this idea in the ripple tank, we used a point source. We then moved the point source manually around the tank as it was making waves. We observed a change in the frequency of the waves. There was a higher wavelength, but a lower frequency away from the direction that the point source was moving, and a lower wavelength but a higher frequency in the waves toward the direction the point source was moving. This is happening because the source is making waves, and then is making waves closer and closer to the wave it made before, and thus, changes the frequency in the direction the source is moving. It has the same effect on the waves behind it. The waves are being made farther and farther from the wave before and are thus changing the frequency. All of the other variables, velocity, amplitude, and direction all remained the same. The Doppler effect is an observed change in frequency.Throughout this ripple tank project, we have learned about the properties of reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, and the Doppler effect. We have learned how to find the velocity of waves and can now have a better understanding on how and why wave phenomenon such as these happen, and we can use these ideas to apply these theories to other things that occur more in our lives, such as sound waves, and can help us to understand how waves in general work....
