4. Answer the following questions on extrasolar planets The first technique to d

Question

4. Answer the following questions on extrasolar planets The first technique to detect many exoplanets was the radial velocity method, measuring the reflex doppler shift of the star due to the planet's orbit. Why might this technique be particularly suited to detect "Hot Jupiters"? Explain the reason for both the words. A. B. Could some of the "Hot Jupiters" in-fact be low-mass stellar companions? Explain. C. If the minimum mass (M sin i) of a Doppler (radial-velocity detected) planet is measured to be 2.5 Mup, what inclination would make the "planet" a low-mass brown dwarf and what inclination would make it a low-mass star? (assume brown dwarf masses range 13-80 Mup D. If you lived on another solar system and witnessed an eclipse of the Sun by Jupiter, what fraction of the solar flux would be blocked out during the maximum eclipse?

Explanation / Answer

a)The radial velocity method relies on the fact that a star does not remain completely stationary when it is orbited by a planet.The radial velocity method is most likely to find the types of planets that are the least likely to be hosts to life.Hot Jupiter are relatively easy to find, they are unlikely homes to any form of life.Hot Jupiters are giant planets composed mostly of gas,but orbiting at dizzying speeds at a very short distance from their star. Their size, short periods, and close proximity to their star ensures that they produce the quick and relatively large stellar wobbles that are most easily detected by Radial Velocity method.

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