Time Dilation vs. Doppler Effect: Similarities & Differences

In summary, time dilation in Special Relativity and the Doppler effect are related phenomena. They are particularly linked in the case of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum, where the Doppler effect is purely due to time dilation. In other cases, such as with sound waves, there is also a preferred reference frame, the rest frame of the medium, which must be taken into account. The classical Doppler effect is a result of the changing distance between observer and source, while the relativistic Doppler effect also includes a component of time dilation. However, in the case of light traveling through a vacuum, there is no preferred reference frame and the Doppler effect is purely due to time dilation.
  • #1
BadgerBadger92
166
83
Does time dilation in Special Relativity relate to the Doppler effect? If you move near the speed of light you experience time differently and the sound is stretched. Are these similar phenomenon?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Sometimes time dilation is called the transverse Doppler shift, so they are related. But the relativistic Doppler is a different formula than the classical Doppler, and the difference is precisely the time dilation. In other words, classical physics predicts no transverse Doppler, but relativity does.
 
  • #3
One has to distinguish two cases: (a) Doppler effect for em. waves in the vacuum and (b) Doppler effect of other waves like sound waves. Case (a) is special, because here the Doppler effect only depends on the relative velocity beween transmitter and receiver, while in case (b) there is a preferred reference frame, the (local) rest frame of the medium the wave propagates in (for sound waves, e.g., the air). In all cases time dilation is part of the Doppler effect. In case (a) the transverse Doppler effect, i.e., the observer measures light emitted perpendicularly to the velocity of the source, is purely due to time dilation. For details, see

https://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~hees/pf-faq/rela-waves.pdf
 
  • Like
Likes Dale
  • #4
"classical" Doppler effect is a result of the changing distance between observer and source (it also relies on a medium, so it makes a difference as to whether it is the source or observer which is moving relative to the medium.)
Relativistic Doppler effect also has a component which depends on the changing distance between observer and source. The difference is that with classical Doppler shift, if you factor out the effect caused by changing distance, you end up with no net time difference, but with Relativistic Doppler effect, when you factor the changing distance out, you are still left with a time difference, which is the time dilation.
 
  • Like
Likes vanhees71
  • #5
One should be aware that if there is a medium involved in both the Newtonian and the relativistic description the (local) restframe of the medium is in a sense a "preferred reference frame", i.e., the relativistic description of these kind of Doppler effects like sound waves in a general frame involves three four-velocities: that of the medium, that of the observer/receiver, and that of the source. The only additional effect in relativity in relation to the Doppler effect indeed is time dilation.

An exception is of course the propagation of light in a vacuum. There you don't have any preferred frame of reference since the vacuum is Poincare invariant and thus does not provide any such preferred frame of reference. That's the modern way of the denial of an aether as a medium for free em. waves, and indeed in the only correct relativistic description of the Doppler effect in this case within a general reference frame there are only the four-velocities of source and receiver involved. The Doppler effect involves thus only the relative four-velocity of source and receiver and contains both the effect from this relative motion and the time dilation effect (leading to a "transverse Doppler effect", which is of 2nd order in ##v_{\text{rel}}/c##).

For more details on both the "acoustic" and the "electromagnetic vacuum" Doppler effect, see

https://itp.uni-frankfurt.de/~hees/pf-faq/rela-waves.pdf
 

FAQ: Time Dilation vs. Doppler Effect: Similarities & Differences

What is time dilation and how does it differ from the Doppler effect?

Time dilation is a phenomenon in which time appears to pass slower for an object that is moving at high speeds or in a strong gravitational field. The Doppler effect, on the other hand, is the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave as it moves towards or away from an observer. The main difference between the two is that time dilation is related to the perception of time, while the Doppler effect is related to the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave.

How are time dilation and the Doppler effect similar?

Both time dilation and the Doppler effect are consequences of the theory of relativity. They both involve the perception of time and the effect of motion on an object. Additionally, they both have important applications in various fields such as astronomy, physics, and engineering.

Can time dilation and the Doppler effect occur simultaneously?

Yes, time dilation and the Doppler effect can occur simultaneously. This is because they are both caused by the same underlying principle of relative motion. For example, in the case of a moving object with a clock, both time dilation and the Doppler effect will be observed.

How do the equations for time dilation and the Doppler effect differ?

The equations for time dilation and the Doppler effect are different because they represent different phenomena. The equation for time dilation is based on the concept of relative velocity, while the equation for the Doppler effect is based on the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave. Additionally, the equations have different variables and constants that are specific to each phenomenon.

What are some real-life examples of time dilation and the Doppler effect?

Time dilation can be observed in GPS satellites, where the clocks on board run slightly faster than clocks on Earth due to their high speeds. The Doppler effect can be observed in everyday life, such as the change in pitch of a siren as an ambulance passes by, or the redshift of light from distant galaxies due to their motion away from us.

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
79
Views
3K
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
54
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
660
Replies
46
Views
2K
Back
Top