The sun has a radius of 6.955 $\times$ 10⁸ km and a rotational period of 25.38 days.What is the difference is there in the peak of the observed spectrum between light received from the approaching side of the Sun and from the receding side of the sun? Observations from the middle of the sun place the spectral peak at 480 nm. A) 13 nm B) 6.4 nm C) 1.6 nm D) 3.2 nm

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference in the peak of the observed spectrum can be calculated using the formula:

Δλ/λ = v/c

where Δλ is the difference in wavelength, λ is the wavelength of the observed spectrum (480 nm), v is the velocity difference between the approaching and receding sides of the sun, and c is the speed of light.

The velocity difference can be calculated using the formula for rotational velocity:

v = 2πr/T

where r is the radius of the sun (6.955 x 10^8 m) and T is the rotational period (25.38 days = 2.192 x 10^6 seconds).

v = 2π(6.955 x 10^8)/(2.192 x 10^6) = 22,090 m/s

Substituting the values into the first formula:

Δλ/480 = 22,090/299,792,458

Δλ = 6.4 nm

Therefore, the best choice is B, with a difference of 6.4 nm between the peak of the observed spectrum received from the approaching and receding sides of the sun.

The Sun Has a Radius of 6 ×\times× 108 Km and a Rotational Period of 25

The Sun Has a Radius of 6 $\times$ 10⁸ Km and a Rotational Period of 25