When we say that light from a distant stellar object is red-shifted,this means that the light we see
A) is from an object moving toward us.
B) is red in color and must have come from a red giant star.
C) has a higher frequency than at the source.
D) has a longer wavelength than at the source.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When light from a distant stellar object is red-shifted, it means that the wavelength of the light has been stretched and has a longer wavelength than at the source. This indicates that the object is moving away from us. Therefore, option A is incorrect. The color of the light is not a reliable indicator of the origin of the light, so option B is incorrect. Red shifting occurs when there is a decrease in frequency and an increase in wavelength, so option C is also incorrect.

When We Say That Light from a Distant Stellar Object