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Doppler, Christian Andreas (1803-1853)
Copyright: IMAGNO/Austrian Archives
Christian Andreas Doppler was born to a master stone mason on 29 November in 1803 in Salzburg. Doppler studied mathematics in Vienna and philosophy in Salzburg. After stint as assistant at the Vienna University, he moved to Prague in 1835 where he taught mathematics and physics before being appointed professor for mathematics and physics at the Czech Technical University in 1841.
In 1836 Doppler married the daughter of a Salzburg goldsmith; the couple had five children. As professor in Prague, Doppler published over 50 works on mathematics, physics, and astronomy. At the age of 39 years he proposed the Doppler Effect, dealing with the apparent change in frequency and wavelength of a wave that is perceived by an observer moving relative to the source of the waves.
The Doppler Effect for electromagnetic waves, such as light, is of great use in astronomy as it has been used to measure the speed at which stars and galaxies are approaching toward or receding from us.
The Doppler Effect is also used in some forms of radar to measure the velocity of detected objects. A radar beam is fired at a moving target - a car, for example, as radar is often used by police to detect speeding motorists - as it recedes from the radar source. The Doppler Effect is furthermore used in medical imaging (ultrasonography) and flow measurement.
In June 1840 Doppler was elected an associate member of the Royal Bohemian Society.
Other honors which came Doppler's way in 1848 were the election to ordinary membership of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Vienna and an honorary doctorate from the University of Prague.
Doppler's time as the first Director of the Institute of Physics at Vienna University was a short one. He was appointed by Imperial Decree on 17 January 1850. His health continued to deteriorate with severe chest problems and, in November 1852, he traveled to Venice in the hope that the warmer climate would bring about some improvement. His health continued to deteriorate with severe chest problems and Doppler died on 17 March 1953.
Christian Doppler
In 1836 Doppler married the daughter of a Salzburg goldsmith; the couple had five children. As professor in Prague, Doppler published over 50 works on mathematics, physics, and astronomy. At the age of 39 years he proposed the Doppler Effect, dealing with the apparent change in frequency and wavelength of a wave that is perceived by an observer moving relative to the source of the waves.
The Doppler Effect for electromagnetic waves, such as light, is of great use in astronomy as it has been used to measure the speed at which stars and galaxies are approaching toward or receding from us.
The Doppler Effect is also used in some forms of radar to measure the velocity of detected objects. A radar beam is fired at a moving target - a car, for example, as radar is often used by police to detect speeding motorists - as it recedes from the radar source. The Doppler Effect is furthermore used in medical imaging (ultrasonography) and flow measurement.
In June 1840 Doppler was elected an associate member of the Royal Bohemian Society.
Other honors which came Doppler's way in 1848 were the election to ordinary membership of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Vienna and an honorary doctorate from the University of Prague.
Doppler's time as the first Director of the Institute of Physics at Vienna University was a short one. He was appointed by Imperial Decree on 17 January 1850. His health continued to deteriorate with severe chest problems and, in November 1852, he traveled to Venice in the hope that the warmer climate would bring about some improvement. His health continued to deteriorate with severe chest problems and Doppler died on 17 March 1953.
Christian Doppler
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