The radial velocity technique works best for:
A)exoplanets whose orbits are along our line of sight (edge on).
B)exoplanets whose orbits are perpendicular to our line of sight (face on).
C)exoplanets whose orbits are nearly circular (low eccentricity).
D)exoplanets whose orbits are very eccentric (very elliptical).

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The radial velocity technique measures the reflex motion of the star caused by the gravitational pull of its orbiting exoplanet. This technique works best for exoplanets whose orbits are along our line of sight (edge on), as these exoplanets produce the largest radial velocity variations in their parent star. The radial velocity technique measures the wobble of a star caused by the gravitational pull of its orbiting planet. This wobble is most noticeable when the planet's orbit is edge on to our line of sight, as this causes the star to move towards and away from us in a regular pattern. When the planet's orbit is face on, there is no noticeable wobble, and when the orbit is very eccentric, the wobble can be difficult to distinguish from other sources of variability in the star's motion. Therefore, exoplanets whose orbits are along our line of sight (edge on) are the best candidates for detection using the radial velocity technique.

The Radial Velocity Technique Works Best For