How to calculate relative doppler shift

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the relative Doppler shift to determine the rotational velocity of Io relative to Jupiter using spectrographic measurements. The original poster is exploring how to measure frequency changes in a specific mineral emission band and how to relate these measurements to the velocities of both Io and Jupiter.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to use a formula involving the change in wavelength to calculate velocity but questions how to determine the relative velocities of Io and Jupiter. Some participants suggest measuring the same emission band for Jupiter to facilitate this comparison.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different methods to integrate the Doppler shifts of Io and Jupiter. There is a suggestion to subtract or add the Doppler shifts from both objects to find the relative velocity, indicating a productive direction in the conversation.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of measuring velocities in a rotating system and the implications of their measurements relative to Earth. There is a focus on the need for additional data from Jupiter to complete the calculations.

Link
Messages
132
Reaction score
1
I am to measure the rotational velocity of Io relative to Jupiter, and will do so using a spectrograph.

I will measure the frequency change of a specific mineral emmision band in the spectra, and then check how much it has shifted from its original wavelength with a table. Then I use the formula:

[tex]v = (\Delta \lambda/\lambda) c[/tex]

where [tex]\Delta \lambda[/tex] is the change of frequency and [tex]\lambda[/tex] is the rest wavelength. C is speed of light.

to calculate the velocity for each object.

The problem is how do I calculate the velocities relative to each other? Io rotates around jupiter, using my method i believe i can only calculate its speed moving relative to earth?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Link said:
I am to measure the rotational velocity of Io relative to Jupiter, and will do so using a spectrograph.

I will measure the frequency change of a specific mineral emmision band in the spectra, and then check how much it has shifted from its original wavelength with a table. Then I use the formula:

[tex]v = (\Delta \lambda/\lambda) c[/tex]

where [tex]\Delta \lambda[/tex] is the change of frequency and [tex]\lambda[/tex] is the rest wavelength. C is speed of light.

to calculate the velocity for each object.

The problem is how do I calculate the velocities relative to each other? Io rotates around jupiter, using my method i believe i can only calculate its speed moving relative to earth?
Can you not also measure the same emission band for Jupiter itself?

AM
 
but the problem is, that I do not know how to integrate the shift of Io relative to jupiter... in order to measure the radial velocity of Io around jupiter, i need to integrate them both into the same formula in some way :confused:
 
Link said:
but the problem is, that I do not know how to integrate the shift of Io relative to jupiter... in order to measure the radial velocity of Io around jupiter, i need to integrate them both into the same formula in some way :confused:
If you measure the Doppler shift from Jupiter itself you would simply subtract/add that from/to the Doppler shifts that you measure from Io.

AM
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K