The Light Curve Made of a Pair of Eclipsing Binaries

question 108

Multiple Choice

The light curve made of a pair of eclipsing binaries will exhibit dips in intensity. The bottoms of these dips can have different shapes. How do astronomers interpret this?

• A) A flat bottom means that one is viewing the system along the long (semimajor) axis.
• B) A flat bottom means that the stars are experiencing a total eclipse.
• C) A rounded bottom means that the stars are exhibiting a partial eclipse.
• D) A V-shaped bottom means that one is viewing the system along the short (semiminor) axis.

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