Doppler Effect
What is the doppler effect?
Definition: "The change in wavelength of radiation (light) due to the relative motion between the source and the observer along the line of sight."
Different doppler shifts
Redshift (to longer wavelengths): The source is moving away from the observer Blueshift (to shorter wavelengths): The source is moving towards the observer
Does the Doppler effect occur when the observer is moving and the source of light is stationary?
Yes
A bright star is moving away from Earth. Which of the choices best completes the following statement describing the spectrum of this star? "A(n) ___________ spectrum that is _______ relative to an unmoving star."
absorption; redshifted
The Doppler Effect causes light from a source moving away to
be shifted to a longer wavelength
If we observe one edge of a planet to be redshifted, and the opposite edge to be blueshifted, what can we conclude about the planet?
the planet is rotating