Exam-style question
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What is the principle behind the radial velocity method used to detect exoplanets?.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The radial velocity method detects exoplanets by observing the Doppler shift in the spectrum of a star as it moves towards or away from Earth due to the gravitational influence of an orbiting planet.
Explanation
Why this works
This answer is strong because it accurately describes the mechanism of the radial velocity method, linking it to the Doppler effect, which is essential for understanding how astronomers infer the presence of exoplanets. The question tests the student's understanding of observational techniques in astronomy.
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