A train sounding its horn is approaching an observer. The pitch of the horn's sound relative to its normal pitch is???
higher (the peaks hit your ear more frequently)
What is the frequency, in hertz, of a sound wave (v = 340 m/s) with a wavelength of 10 m?
To determine the relative pitch of a train horn when approaching an observer, we need to consider the Doppler effect. The Doppler effect is the change in frequency or pitch of a sound wave due to the relative motion between the source of the sound and the observer.
When a train is moving towards an observer, the sound waves from the train's horn are compressed, resulting in an increase in frequency or pitch. This increase in frequency makes the pitch of the horn's sound higher than its normal pitch. Therefore, the relative pitch of the horn's sound when approaching an observer is higher than its normal pitch.