The diagram below shows the radial velocity curve of a double-line spectroscopic binary. Based on this radial velocity curve, which of the following statements is correct?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the radial velocity curve, when the line of sight is towards Star A, the velocity shift is lower than when it is towards Star B. This indicates that Star B has a larger mass, as its gravitational force is causing a larger velocity shift. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer. The radial velocity curve shows that star B is moving faster than star A, which indicates that star B is more massive. The ratio of the masses can be determined from the ratio of the amplitudes of the peaks in the radial velocity curve, which is approximately 2:1. Therefore, star B is roughly twice the mass of star A.

The Diagram Below Shows the Radial Velocity Curve of a Double-Line