Exam-style question
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How does the transit method differ from the radial velocity method in exoplanet detection?.
- A.The transit method measures brightness changes, while radial velocity measures star motion.
- B.The transit method can detect any size of planet, while radial velocity is limited to large planets.
- C.The transit method requires less time for observations than radial velocity.
- D.The transit method can determine atmospheric composition, while radial velocity cannot.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The transit method measures brightness changes, while radial velocity measures star motion.
Explanation
Why this works
The transit method detects exoplanets by observing the decrease in brightness of a star when a planet transits in front of it, while the radial velocity method detects the gravitational influence of a planet on its star, causing the star to move in response. This key difference highlights the distinct approaches each method takes in detecting exoplanets.
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