You are observing the wobble of a star caused by the orbit of a planet around that star. Which property of this system listed below most significantly affects the period of that wobble?
A)the planet's orbital radius
B)the planet's mass
C)both the planet's orbital radius and its mass
D)neither the planet's orbital radius nor its mass

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The period of the wobble is directly proportional to the square root of the planet's orbital radius. This means that as the planet's orbital radius increases, the period of the wobble also increases. The planet's mass, on the other hand, has a much smaller effect on the period of the wobble.

You Are Observing the Wobble of a Star Caused by the Orbit