Why have astronomers using the radial velocity method found more Jupiter-sized planets at a distance of 1 AU around other stars than Earth-sized planets?
A) A Jupiter-sized planet occults a larger area than an Earth-sized planet.
B) A Jupiter-sized planet exerts a larger gravitational force on the star than an Earth-sized planet, and so the Doppler shift of the star is larger.
C) A Jupiter-sized planet shines brighter than an Earth-sized planet.
D) Earth-sized planets are much rarer than Jupiter-sized planets.
E) Actually, the planets found at these distances all have been Earth-sized.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The radial velocity method detects planets by observing the Doppler shift in the star's spectrum caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. A Jupiter-sized planet exerts a larger gravitational force on its star compared to an Earth-sized planet, resulting in a more noticeable Doppler shift.

Why Have Astronomers Using the Radial Velocity Method Found More