Question

The radial velocity method of exoplanet detection preferentially finds planets that have:

a) high masses and small semi-major axes
b) high masses and large semi-major axes
c) low masses and small semi-major axes
d) low masses and large semi-major axes
e) none of the above--the biases that used to affect this method have been corrected in recent years

Answer 1

The radial velocity method of exoplanet detection preferentially finds planets that have high masses and are orbiting close to their stars due to the significant wobble they cause, making option a) the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The radial velocity method of exoplanet detection preferentially finds planets that have high masses and small semi-major axes. The Doppler effect allows astronomers to measure changes in the star's radial velocity, which is caused by the gravitational influences of orbiting planets. This technique is most sensitive to planets that are large and close to their host stars, as these factors produce the most significant stellar wobble. Though advances in technology have improved the detection of lower mass planets over time, the method still has inherent biases towards detecting high-mass planets that orbit close to their star.

Understanding this, the correct answer to the question would be option a) high masses and small semi-major axes which are easier to detect because they cause more considerable effects on the star's radial velocity.