Christian Andreas Doppler Christian Andreas Doppler

It was during the years of his early teaching career that Doppler presented a brilliant paper entitled On the colored light of the double stars and certain other stars of the heavens to the Royal Bohemian Society in Prague. In other words...

Doppler theorized that sound and light waves change if the source of the wave moves or if the observer of the wave moves. Doppler tested his theory by...

Crossing Railroad      

Doppler had a trumpeter stand on a moving train for 2 days, playing the same note, while trained musicians recorded the difference in sound. At first, Doppler did not convince everyone of his theory. Many opponents argued his theory and he eventually published a better version. Doppler began enjoying widespread respect as a scientist and lecturer.

In 1850 when Christian Doppler was 47, a new Institute of Physics was created at the University of Vienna and Doppler was appointed the institute’s first director. He began lecturing and presenting his theories on light and sound waves. However, his health continued to deteriorate, and he began experiencing severe chest pains.

In 1852, Doppler traveled to warmer climates in Venice, hoping for some improvement in health. In 1853, realizing the end was near, his wife journeyed to Venice to be with him when he died at the age of 50.

Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. (2000). 6th Edition. Available. [Online]. %20effect, Columbia University Press Bibliography O’Connor, J. J. and E. F. Robertson. (April 1998). Available. [Online]. www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/Mathematicians/Doppler.html