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Chapter 25: Problem 27

The quasar SDSS 1044-0125 has a redshift \(z=5.80\). At what speed does this quasar seem to be receding from us? Give your answer in \(\mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\) and as a fraction of the speed of light \(c\).

Short Answer

Expert verified
The quasar SDSS 1044-0125 is moving away from us at a speed of 1740 km/s. This is approximately 0.58 times the speed of light.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the concept of redshift

Redshift is a measure of how much the wavelength of light has been stretched by the expansion of the universe. The factor by which the wavelength of incoming light is increased due to the rapid motion of a source away from an observer is called the redshift (z). This z number is directly related to the speed at which an object is moving away from us.
02

Calculate the relative speed

Speed can be calculated using the formula \(v = cz\), where c is the speed of light (approximately \(3 \times 10^8\) m/s or \(300,000\) km/s) and z is the redshift. Given that z = 5.8, calculating \(v = c \times z\) gives the speed at which the object is moving away from us in m/s. Convert this to km/s for the desired unit.
03

Calculate the speed as a fraction of the speed of light

To find this speed as a fraction of the speed of light, divide the previously calculated speed v by the speed of light c. This should be a simple ratio as the units of the speeds will cancel out.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

When we observe a quasar with redshift \(z=0.75\), how far into its past are we looking? If we could see that quasar as it really is right now (that is, if the light from the quasar could somehow reach us instantaneously), would it still look like a quasar? Explain why or why not.

Observations of a certain galaxy show that stars at a distance of \(16 \mathrm{pc}\) from the center of the galaxy orbit the center at a speed of \(200 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{s}\). Use Newton's form of Kepler's third law to determine the mass of the central black hole.

The Seyfert galaxy NGC 1275 is actually two galaxies that are colliding. Images of \(\mathrm{NGC} 1275\) show a number of globular clusters with a distinctive blue color. Explain how this color shows that these clusters formed relatively recently, perhaps as a result of the collision.

It was suggested in the 1960 s that quasars might be compact objects ejected at high speeds from the centers of nearby ordinary galaxies. Explain why the absence of blueshifted quasars disproves this hypothesis.

Why were some astronomers skeptical that the redshifts of quasars gave a true indication of their distance?
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