How the Doppler effect is used to calculate the velocity of a star from its spectrum?
How the Doppler effect is used to calculate the velocity of a star from its spectrum?
The Doppler effect is a phenomenon that occurs when a wave source (such as light or sound) moves relative to an observer.
When the source moves toward the observer, the wavelength of the wave appears to be shortened and its frequency appears to be higher.
When the source moves away from the observer, the wavelength appears to be lengthened and its frequency appears to be lower.
This phenomenon is used in astronomy to calculate the velocity of stars from their spectral lines.
The Doppler effect causes the spectral lines to shift in wavelength, with the shift in wavelength being proportional to the star's velocity.
When a star is moving away from us, the spectral lines in its spectrum will be shifted to longer wavelengths, and when it is moving towards us, the spectral lines will be shifted to shorter wavelengths.
By measuring the amount of the shift in the spectral lines, the velocity of the star can be calculated.
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