One important aspect of the study of binary star systems, as distinct from single stars, is that it provides a
A) measurement of the masses of stars.
B) measurement of the surface temperatures of stars.
C) verification of the Doppler equation for wavelength shift of light from moving objects.
D) measurement of the composition (abundances of elements) inside stars.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Binary star systems allow astronomers to calculate the masses of stars by observing their orbital motions around a common center of mass. This is a direct application of Kepler's laws of motion and Newton's law of gravitation.

One Important Aspect of the Study of Binary Star Systems