The precision in measurements of radial velocities by DE?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the precision of measurements of radial velocities using the Doppler effect, specifically in the context of detecting a Jupiter-like planet orbiting a star similar to the Sun. Participants are examining the relevant equations and calculations to determine the radial velocity and orbital period of the planet.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations for the orbital period and radial velocity, questioning the values used for distance and mass. There is a focus on the implications of the orbital period being significantly shorter than expected for a Jupiter-like planet.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants providing insights and corrections regarding the calculations. Some have suggested checking the values for distance and period, while others have noted the need for consistency in the units used. There is no explicit consensus yet, but several productive lines of inquiry have been raised.

Contextual Notes

Participants are constrained by the requirement to use specific data for mass and distance, and there is an emphasis on using SI units. The discussion also highlights the potential influence of other planets on the measurements being considered.

Omsin
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Hello, I have an exercise here that I need help with.

The precision in measurements of radial velocities by the Doppler effect is currently 1 m/s. Can a Jupiter like planet orbiting a star similar to the Sun at a distance from the mother star equal to the Sun-Jupiter distance be detected? (Use www or other sources to find the mass of Jupiter, the Sun and the distance between the two which are the only data you are allowed to use).

If found the following variables:

mJup = 1.9*1027kg
d = 7.78*108 m
mSun = 1.99 * 1030 kgRelevant equations:

γ - Gravitational constant
ms - Mass of Star
mp - Mass of planet
P - period
vsr - Radial velocity of starmp*sin i = ((ms) *vsr*p1/3)/((2*γ*)1/3)

P = √((r^3*4*π^2)/(γ*mS))

Calculations:

I found:

P = 1.52*10-5 s

Assumes that i = 90 °:

vsr = ((mp*(2*π*γ)1/3)/((ms 2/3) * (P1/3))

vsr = 3.62 * 105 m/sThis is clearly not the correct answer. The correct answer is vsr ≈ vs = 12.2 m/s
 
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1.5 * 10-5 s would be 15 microseconds for an orbit...
 
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EDIT:
I also meant r = d (distance between sun and planet)

Yeah, I forgot r3Here is equation (1) and (2)written in LATEX

(1)
$$ P_{star} = \sqrt{ \frac{r^{3}4 \pi^{2} }{ \gamma m_{s} } } $$

(2)
$$ v_{rs} = \frac{m_{p}(2 \pi \gamma )^{ \frac{1}{3} } }{m_{s}^{ \frac{2}{3} }p^{ \frac{1}{3} } } $$---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Changes:

So the period was P ≈ 11835 seconds ≈ 3.3 hours
Now I got vsr ≈ 395 m/s
Still far from 12 m/s
 
Last edited:
3.3 hours for the Jupiter orbit is still way too short.
You might also want to check the value you used as distance. Especially the unit.
 
I believe it's the period of the sun around the sun- Jupiter center of mass system( a little outside the sun). Vrs is the radial velocity of the sun around this center of mass.

I only used SI - units (m/s, s, kg)
 
Quick consistency check: Earth needs one year for the orbit. Jupiter can be seen during the night, so it has to be more distant than Earth, therefore its orbital period has to be longer than a year. And certainly longer than 3.3 hours!

You can also look up its orbital period - it is about 12 years.
Or look up its distance: 7.78*108 km.
 
I found vs by using eq (3):

$$ v_{p} = \sqrt{\gamma m_{s}} \approx 13061 m/s $$ then using (4)

$$ v_{s} = \frac{m_{p} v_{p}}{m_{s}}\approx 12 m/s $$

But vs is ≈ vrs, but still not vrs

But couldn't I use a different method with eq(1) and eq(2) to find vrs?
 
The difference between Jupiter's speed and the relative speed is just 0.1%. You can use the reduced mass to take this small difference into account, or take into account that the radius of the Jupiter orbit is smaller than the distance between Jupiter and sun. But you would not really gain precision with that, because the other planets get relevant at that level, they influence the position of the sun as well.
 

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