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k77i
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Homework Statement
A radar device emits microwaves with a frequency of 3.20e+09 Hz. When the waves are reflected from a van moving directly away from the emitter, the beat frequency between the source wave and the reflected wave is 838 beats per second. What is the speed of the van? (Note: microwaves, like all forms of electromagnetic radiation, propagate at the speed of light c = 3.00e+08 m/s.)
Homework Equations
frequency of beat = |f1-f2|
f' = [(v-vo)/v]fo
where v is the speed of emitted frequency (the speed of light on this case), vo is the speed of the observer and fo is the frequency of the observer
The above equation is for when the observer is moving away from the source and the source is stationary
The Attempt at a Solution
First i found the frequency of the observer (van) by using the first equation:
f(beat) = |f1-f2|
838 = |3.20e+09 - f2|
So f2 = 3 199 999 162
Then i used the second equation to find v0 (speed of the van):
f' = [(v-vo)/v]fo
3 199 999 162 = [(3.00e+08 - vo)3.00e+08]3.20e+09
this gave me vo = 78.56m/s, but according to the homework it's not right
Is it because I am not supposed to consider f2 as f'? If not I am not exactly sure how to solve for vo.