Exam-style question
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What does the radial velocity method measure to detect exoplanets?.
- A.The change in brightness of a star
- B.The shift in the star's spectral lines
- C.The distance between the star and the planet
- D.The temperature of the exoplanet
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The shift in the star's spectral lines
Explanation
Why this works
The evidence shows that the radial velocity method detects changes in the spectral lines of a star due to the gravitational influence of an orbiting planet. This shift indicates the star's motion towards or away from the observer, implying the presence of a planet.
Therefore, the correct answer is the shift in the star's spectral lines, as it directly relates to the detection of exoplanets.
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