Beyond Earth

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Question 16
Medium

Astronomers observe the light from two distant galaxies, G1 G_1\,G1​ and G2G_2G2​. Galaxy G2 G_2\,G2​ is located at three times the distance from Earth compared to Galaxy G1G_1G1​ (d2=3d1d_2 = 3d_1d2​=3d1​), as shown in the diagram below.

Galaxies G1 and G2

If v1 v_1\,v1​ and v2 v_2\,v2​ are the recession velocities of the galaxies, and Δλ1 \Delta \lambda_1\,Δλ1​ and Δλ2 \Delta \lambda_2\,Δλ2​ are the shifts in wavelength of a specific spectral line observed from each galaxy, which of the following relations is correct? (Assume non-relativistic speeds where v≪cv \ll cv≪c.)

v2=3v1v_2 = 3v_1v2​=3v1​ and Δλ2=3Δλ1\Delta \lambda_2 = 3\Delta \lambda_1Δλ2​=3Δλ1​

v2=3v1v_2 = 3v_1v2​=3v1​ and λ2=3λ1\lambda_2 = 3\lambda_1λ2​=3λ1​

v2=13v1v_2 = \frac{1}{3}v_1v2​=31​v1​ and Δλ2=13Δλ1\Delta \lambda_2 = \frac{1}{3}\Delta \lambda_1Δλ2​=31​Δλ1​

v2=9v1v_2 = 9v_1v2​=9v1​ and Δλ2=9Δλ1\Delta \lambda_2 = 9\Delta \lambda_1Δλ2​=9Δλ1​

Beyond Earth Questions

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