The Radial Velocity Curve of a Star in a Binary

question 206

Multiple Choice

The radial velocity curve of a star in a binary star system is a plot against time of the

• A) speed of the star in a direction perpendicular to the line of sight to the star.
• B) position of the star in celestial coordinates.
• C) variation of Doppler shift of the star's spectral lines and hence of its speed toward or away from Earth.
• D) temperature of the star as determined from the movement of the peak wavelength of its spectrum.