Shortcut Methods

Numerical on Doppler Effect

Shortcut Method: For a moving observer, the apparent frequency is given by:

f=v±v0v±vsf

where:

  • v is the speed of sound in air
  • v0 is the speed of the observer
  • vs is the speed of the source (e.g. police car)
  • f is the actual frequency of the source (e.g. siren)

In this numerical:

  • v = 344 m/s (speed of sound in air)
  • v0 = 0 m/s (stationary observer)
  • vs = 30 m/s (police car moving towards the observer)
  • f = 500 Hz (siren frequency)

Substituting these values, we get:

f=344+034430500 f=344314×500 f=544.62 Hz

So the apparent frequency heard by the person is 544.62 Hz.

Numerical on Polarization of Light

Shortcut Method:

The intensity of the light transmitted by a polarizer is given by:

I=I0cos2θ

where:

  • I is the intensity of the transmitted light
  • I0 is the intensity of the incident light
  • θ is the angle between the polarization of the incident light and the optical axis of the polarizer

In this numerical:

  • I = 0.5I0 (intensity of the transmitted light)
  • I0 is the intensity of the incident light
  • θ = 30 degrees (angle of incidence)

Substituting these values, we get:

0.5I0=cos230\degree cos30\degree=12=22 θ=arccos(22) θ=45\degree

So the angle of polarization of the incident light is 45 degrees to the optical axis of the polarizer.

Numerical on Electromagnetic Spectrum

Shortcut Method:

The frequency of a wave given by:

f=vλ

where:

  • f is the frequency of the wave
  • v is the speed of the wave
  • λ is the wavelength of the wave

In this numerical:

  • v = 3 * 10^8 meters per second (speed of light)
  • λ = 300 meters (wavelength of the radio wave)

Substituting these values, we get:

f=3×108 m/s300 m f=1×106 Hz

So the frequency of the radio wave is 1 MHz (1 * 10^6 Hz).