 Doppler frequency along a trajectory

In the same uniform stationary sound model, let $\tau$ be emission time, $t$ reception time, and ${\mathbf{x}}_s(\tau )$ and ${\mathbf{x}}_o(t)$ source and receiver positions. The direct-path propagation condition and its direction areThe unit vector $\mathbf{n}$ points from the source's old emission position to the receiver's reception position. With velocities ${\mathbf{v}}_s=d{\mathbf{x}}_s/d\tau$ and ${\mathbf{v}}_o=d{\mathbf{x}}_o/dt$, taking a derivative of the propagation condition givesHere the dot products project onto the actual propagation direction. The last equality counts source wave phase cycles at reception for constant emitted frequency $f_s$. It assumes both speeds are below $c$, a unique direct arrival and smooth motion; interpreting a measured short-window frequency spectrum additionally requires little frequency change within that window. The source velocity must be evaluated at emission, not at reception. This delayed geometry matters when the direction changes.

For an original pass-by model, a source follows ${\mathbf{x}}_s(\tau )=(v\tau ,0)$ and a stationary receiver is at $(0,b)$ with $b>0$. The source passes its closest position at emission time $\tau =0$. ThenThese parametric equations give received frequency against reception time. For $\tau <0$ the shift is positive, for $\tau >0$ negative, and the unshifted emission at $\tau =0$ reaches the receiver at $t=b/c$. Thus zero shift occurs after the source's geometric closest passage in the material's reference frame. Increasing $b$ spreads the transition over a longer interval even though $v$ is unchanged. Far before and after passage, the frequency approaches $f_{s}c/(c-v)$ and $f_{s}c/(c+v)$ respectively.