A star's light is alternately shifted from the blue part of the light spectrum to the red part.

What does this mean about the length of light waves and movement of the star?

A.

The wavelengths are getting shorter then longer, meaning the star is moving away from the observer.

B.

The wavelengths are getting shorter then longer, meaning the star is moving toward the observer.

C.

The wavelengths are getting shorter then longer, meaning the star is revolving around another unseen object.

D.

The wavelengths are getting shorter then longer, meaning the star is rotating rapidly.

Question

Physics

Elsa Glover

19 March, 19:40

A star's light is alternately shifted from the blue part of the light spectrum to the red part.

What does this mean about the length of light waves and movement of the star?

A.

The wavelengths are getting shorter then longer, meaning the star is moving away from the observer.

B.

The wavelengths are getting shorter then longer, meaning the star is moving toward the observer.

C.

The wavelengths are getting shorter then longer, meaning the star is revolving around another unseen object.

D.

The wavelengths are getting shorter then longer, meaning the star is rotating rapidly.

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Hamilton · Answer 1

The answer is A because it is an example of red shift which if basically the Doppler effect, but for light. The wavelength gets longer because it has visible light has shifted into the red end of the spectrum, showing that it has a shorter frequency with a longer wavelength; meaning it is moving away from us