State 2 properties of stars that you can derive by using a spectrometer. Explain how the spectrometer accomplishes each of the items you mentioned.

College Physics
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**Question:**

State 2 properties of stars that you can derive by using a spectrometer. Explain how the spectrometer accomplishes each of the items you mentioned.

**Explanation:**

A spectrometer is an instrument that analyzes the light from stars to determine various properties. Here are two properties that can be derived:

1. **Chemical Composition:**
   - **How it's accomplished:** When light from a star passes through a spectrometer, it is spread into a spectrum of colors, similar to a rainbow. Each element in the star's atmosphere absorbs light at specific wavelengths, creating dark lines in the spectrum known as absorption lines. By analyzing these lines, scientists can identify which elements are present in the star's atmosphere.

2. **Radial Velocity:**
   - **How it's accomplished:** The Doppler effect causes the absorption lines in a star’s spectrum to shift depending on the star’s motion relative to Earth. If the star is moving towards us, the lines shift towards shorter wavelengths (blue shift), and if it's moving away, they shift towards longer wavelengths (red shift). By measuring this shift, astronomers can calculate the radial velocity of the star, indicating its speed and direction of motion along our line of sight.
Transcribed Image Text:**Question:** State 2 properties of stars that you can derive by using a spectrometer. Explain how the spectrometer accomplishes each of the items you mentioned. **Explanation:** A spectrometer is an instrument that analyzes the light from stars to determine various properties. Here are two properties that can be derived: 1. **Chemical Composition:** - **How it's accomplished:** When light from a star passes through a spectrometer, it is spread into a spectrum of colors, similar to a rainbow. Each element in the star's atmosphere absorbs light at specific wavelengths, creating dark lines in the spectrum known as absorption lines. By analyzing these lines, scientists can identify which elements are present in the star's atmosphere. 2. **Radial Velocity:** - **How it's accomplished:** The Doppler effect causes the absorption lines in a star’s spectrum to shift depending on the star’s motion relative to Earth. If the star is moving towards us, the lines shift towards shorter wavelengths (blue shift), and if it's moving away, they shift towards longer wavelengths (red shift). By measuring this shift, astronomers can calculate the radial velocity of the star, indicating its speed and direction of motion along our line of sight.
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