Ace the BMAT 2026 – Unleash Your Biomedical Superpowers!

The Doppler Effect describes changes in wavelength and frequency of waves in relation to an observer's movement relative to the source of the waves. This phenomenon occurs when a wave source moves toward or away from an observer. When the source moves towards the observer, the waves are compressed, leading to a decrease in wavelength (an increase in frequency), which is observed as a higher pitch in sound waves or a blue shift in light waves. Conversely, if the source is moving away from the observer, the waves are stretched, resulting in an increase in wavelength (a decrease in frequency), perceived as a lower pitch in sound or a red shift in light.

This understanding is pivotal in various fields, including astronomy, where it helps determine the movement of stars and galaxies, and in medical imaging, particularly in ultrasound, where it allows for the assessment of blood flow based on frequency shifts. The other options provided do not capture the essence of the Doppler Effect; they pertain to different physical phenomena unrelated to the wave frequency and wavelength changes associated with the motion of the source and observer.