Which of the following cannot be determined from the spectrum of a star?
A) chemical composition
B) surface temperature
C) radial (along line of sight) velocity
D) tangential (perpendicular to line of sight) velocity
E) both c and d

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The spectrum of a star can only give information about its radial velocity (along the line of sight), not its tangential velocity (perpendicular to the line of sight). Surface temperature and chemical composition can be determined from the spectrum of a star, while radial velocity can be determined through doppler shift measurements.

Which of the Following Cannot Be Determined from the Spectrum