By what factor would a star's characteristic wavelengths of light be shifted if it were moving away from Earth at 0.9c?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The factor by which wavelength would be change is4.358 .

Step by step solution

01

Write the given data from the question.

The velocity of the source,v=0.9c

02

Determine the formulas to calculate the factor of characteristics wavelength.

The expression between the frequency, wavelength and speed of light is given as follows.

λ=cf

Here,λis the wavelength, cis the speed of light and fis the frequency.

The relationship between the observer and source frequency is given as follows.

fobs=fsource1-vc1+vc

03

Calculate the factor of characteristics wavelength. 

Determine the wavelength equation for the observer.

λobs=cfobs

Substitute fsource1v/c1+v/cforfobs into above equation.

λobs=cfsource1v/c1+v/cλobs=cfsource1+v/c1v/c

Substitute λsourceforcfsource into above equation.

λobs=λsource1+v/c1v/cλobsλsource=1+v/c1v/c

Substitute 0.9cforv into above equation.

λobsλsource=1+0.9c/c10.9c/cλobsλsource=1+0.910.9λobsλsource=1.90.1λobsλsource=4.358

Hence the factor by which wavelength would be change is4.358.

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