Transit Method Practice

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What is the Transit Method in exoplanet detection?

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The Transit Method involves observing the dimming of a star's light when a planet passes in front of it, allowing astronomers to infer the planet's size and orbital period.

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What does a light curve represent in astronomy?

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A light curve is a graph that shows the brightness of a star over time, which can indicate the presence of orbiting exoplanets through periodic dips in brightness.

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What is an orbital period?

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The orbital period is the time it takes for a planet to complete one full orbit around its star.

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How can the size of an exoplanet be inferred from a light curve?

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The size of an exoplanet can be inferred from the amount of light it blocks from its star during a transit; a larger planet will block more light.

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What is the significance of Kepler's discoveries?

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Kepler's discoveries have significantly advanced our understanding of exoplanets, revealing the diversity of planetary systems and the potential for habitable worlds.

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What is the relationship between a planet's distance from its star and its orbital period?

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According to Kepler's Third Law, the square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its average distance from the star.

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What is the difference between Kepler-11b and Kepler-11g in terms of orbital period?

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Kepler-11b has the shortest orbital period among the Kepler-11 planets, while Kepler-11g has a longer orbital period.

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What factors can affect the accuracy of measurements in the Transit Method?

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Factors include the star's variability, the presence of other planets, and observational noise.

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What is the approximate orbital period of Kepler-7b?

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~5 Days.

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How do astronomers determine the size of an exoplanet like Kepler-9b?

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By analyzing the light curve and measuring the amount of light blocked during its transit.