Question

The transit method preferentially detects a. large planets close to the central star. b. small planets close to the central star. c. large planets far from the central star. d. small planets far from the central star. e. none of the above. (The method detects all of these equally well.)

Answer 1

a. large planets close to the central star.

Step-by-step explanation:

The transit method for finding exoplanets basically measures the amount of light that is blocked from the star by a planet as it passes in front of it. Therefore, more light is blocked by bigger planets (which means it is easier to detect this). Additionally, Kepler's Laws dictate that an orbiting planet has a quicker period the closer it is to the star, which causes the light to fade more often.

AND Fundamental principle: A star's brightness will somewhat drop when a planet passes in front of it. We simply need the "light curve" from photometry, but it must be quite exact.

Thanks.

- Eddie E.