Why have astronomers using the radial velocity method found more Jupiter-sized planets at a distance of 1 AU around other stars than Earth-sized planets?
A) A Jupiter-sized planet occults a larger area than an Earth-sized planet.
B) A Jupiter-sized planet exerts a larger gravitational force on the star than an Earth-sized planet, and the Doppler shift of the star is larger.
C) A Jupiter-sized planet shines brighter than an Earth-sized planet.
D) Earth-sized planets are much rarer than Jupiter-sized planets.
E) Actually, the planets found at these distances have all been Earth sized.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The radial velocity method relies on detecting the Doppler shift of a star's spectrum as it wobbles due to the gravitational pull of orbiting planets. A Jupiter-sized planet exerts a stronger gravitational force on its star than an Earth-sized planet, causing a larger Doppler shift in the star's spectrum. Therefore, Jupiter-sized planets are easier to detect with this method. Additionally, planets at a distance of 1 AU from their star (the distance at which Earth orbits the Sun) have a shorter orbital period, so they complete more orbits in a given observing time, making them more likely to be detected.

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