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Ric's Equation: Derivation

Variables:

v: Source's velocity (Mach #)

w: Wavelengths

f: Frequencies

Subscripts:

a: Arrival

d: Departure

s: Source


Notes:

1: These are the two wavelengths measured from the base frequency and source velocity.

2: Two equations with equal values – we can drop Wb.

3: Everything flipped over, Fb is just for show.

4: Convert the other wavelengths to frequencies as we have that data.

5: Expanding so that …

6: … we can collect the velocity terms on the left side.

7: Factoring that so we can …

… reach the elegant and useful form.

At low frequency shifts, fa – fd is low, and we get the low velocity. High frequency shifts make fa dominate and we converge on fa / fa, or 1, the speed of sound.