Relativistic Doppler effect
What you are seeing: the observed frequency ratio as a function of viewing angle at fixed source speed . The polar plot shows the same factor on radial axes: head-on approach () gives the maximum blueshift, recession () gives the maximum redshift, and at there is a pure transverse redshift by (no Newtonian analog).
Slide the speed to see the curve sharpen as : the blueshift cone narrows toward forward beaming. The dashed red horizontal at marks where blueshift flips to redshift; it crosses zero at .
beta (v/c)0.500
theta (deg)60
gamma:1
f_obs / f_src:1
11WHAT TO TRY
- Vary each control and watch the rail readouts respond.
- Compare the diagnostic plot against the live scene.