medium · MCAT chem-phys

An ultrasound technician uses the Doppler effect to measure the speed of blood flow.

If the blood is moving away from the ultrasound source, how will the detected frequency compare to the emitted frequency, and what is the physical reason for this shift?

  1. Higher frequency; the receding motion compresses the wavefronts as they travel through the medium.
  2. Lower frequency; the receding motion 'stretches' the wavefronts, increasing the wavelength.
  3. Frequency remains unchanged; the Doppler effect only applies to light waves, not mechanical sound waves.
  4. Higher frequency; the speed of the ultrasound wave increases as it reflects off the moving blood.

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