Redshift
A very basic way to demonstrate the Doppler Effect, and hence explain redshift.
Fisher's Physicists
Duration: 3:18
Views: 114
Related Experiments
The Doppler EffectA straightforward demonstration of the Doppler effect, here extended to explain stellar redshift.
For a quick write-up of the featured experiment, see this page at Seed; there’s also a fully-illustrated example.
A good clear description of an experiment, this — filming ‘make&do’ is deceptively tricky, and even professional directors get caught out and forget to point the camera at the props. But this film is good and clear, well done.
Overall it’d clearly benefit from being edited down a bit. Personally I quite like the verbal fluffs and pauses — it’s honest! — but it’d be worth having a look to see what the film’s like with those taken out. More importantly, however, there’s something like a repeat in the way the film works. With a little care and a shrewd eye, I’ve a hunch it could be a minute shorter without losing any real content. What do you think?
Good effort, though - it’s an excellent demonstration to pick, a clear description, and it’s linked to a solid bit of physics.
— Jonathan.
good
sbarnwal, 13 Jun 2009
Although a nice demonstration of Doppler shift, the cosmological redshift due to the expansion of the Universe is not a Doppler effect as, indeed, the Wikipedia link below the film clip itself explains clearly.
Simon Carson, 18 Jan 2008
What a fantastic demo! I struggled with this when teaching....now we can build our own doppler and understand this in a kinaesthetic way!
Mrs Wilkins, 13 Jan 2008