As the radius, r, of extrasolar planets increases, we expect the amount of light they block from their parent star to change by a factor of ________. A) 1/r² B) 1/r C) r D) r² E) There will be no change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The amount of light blocked by a planet during a transit is proportional to the area of the planet's disk, which is πr². Therefore, as the radius increases, the amount of light blocked increases by a factor of r².

As the Radius, R, of Extrasolar Planets Increases, We Expect