Question

Suppose that you observe light emitted from a distant star to be at a wavelength of 525 nm. The wavelength of light to an observer on the distant star is 950 nm. What is the velocity of the star relative to you (in units of the speed of light c), and is it moving towards or away from you?

Answer 1

The velocity of the star is 0.532 c.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that,

Wavelength of observer = 525 nm

Wave length of source = 950 nm

We need to calculate the velocity

If the direction is from observer to star.

From Doppler effect

`\lambda_(0)=\sqrt{(c+v)/(c-v)}*\lambda_(s)`

Put the value into the formula

`525=\sqrt{(c+v)/(c-v)}*950`

`(c+v)/(c-v)=((525)/(950))^2`

`(c+v)/(c-v)=0.305`

`c+v=0.305*(c-v)`

`v(1+0.305)=c(0.305-1)`

`v=(0.305-1)/(1+0.305)c`

`v=−0.532c`

Negative sign shows the star is moving toward the observer.

Hence, The velocity of the star is 0.532 c.