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Usually, that the object is moving away from us. It may also mean that the light comes from a "gravitational well", that is, that the light has to escape from gravity before it reaches us - this will make the light lose some energy, and shift towards the red part of the spectrum.

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Q: What does a red shift in the spectrum of light from an object indicate about the object?
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What does a red shift in the spectrum of light from an object indicate?

The visible spectrum contains two ends, infrared and ultraviolet. A shift of light towards the infrared end typically indicates the object is receding from the observer. Another explanation is that the object may be entering a deep gravity well, which would also stretch and distort light reflected or emitted from the object.


A red shift in the spectrum of the light from an object indicates the object is moving where?

away from the observer.


Why the red shift in light from distant galaxies indicate that the universe is expanding?

Red shift is observed in the spectrum of light from an object when it is moving away from the observer. Most astronomical objects display a red shift in their light. Also, the red shift is greater for objects which are further away. For this to happen - in all directions, the universe must be expanding.


What does redshifts indicate to astronomers?

The object is moving away from the observer.


How do you calculate red shift?

The spectrum of light emitted from heated hydrogen has dark lines, caused by the absorption of a very narrow wavelength band of light. These dark lines always take the same location relative to each other. If all the lines in an object's spectrum are shifted by the same amount, towards the red end of the visible spectrum, then the light is "red shifted." The amount of the shift is often described with a number 'z', where z equals the shift in wavelength divided by the wavelength as originally emitted by the object.

Related questions

What does a red shift in the spectrum of light from an object indicate?

The visible spectrum contains two ends, infrared and ultraviolet. A shift of light towards the infrared end typically indicates the object is receding from the observer. Another explanation is that the object may be entering a deep gravity well, which would also stretch and distort light reflected or emitted from the object.


A red shift in the spectrum of the light from an object indicates the object is moving where?

away from the observer.


Why the red shift in light from distant galaxies indicate that the universe is expanding?

Red shift is observed in the spectrum of light from an object when it is moving away from the observer. Most astronomical objects display a red shift in their light. Also, the red shift is greater for objects which are further away. For this to happen - in all directions, the universe must be expanding.


What does the blue shift in the spectrum of light from an object indicate the object is moving?

A blue shift in the spectrum of light from an object would indicate that the object is moving towards the observer. The blue shift indicates that the object is under centripetal force. The object may not be moving toward the center if it is balanced by centrifugal force (repulsion) from the center.


What does redshifts indicate to astronomers?

The object is moving away from the observer.


How are Doppler blue and red shift different?

A blue shift is observed in the spectrum from an object approaching the observer whereas a red shift is observed for a receding object.


How do you calculate red shift?

The spectrum of light emitted from heated hydrogen has dark lines, caused by the absorption of a very narrow wavelength band of light. These dark lines always take the same location relative to each other. If all the lines in an object's spectrum are shifted by the same amount, towards the red end of the visible spectrum, then the light is "red shifted." The amount of the shift is often described with a number 'z', where z equals the shift in wavelength divided by the wavelength as originally emitted by the object.


What part of the spectrum does the spectrum of distant light shift to?

It is called red-shift. It shifts to the longer-wavelength, shorter-frequency direction. For example, visible light shifts towards the infra-red area of the spectrum.


What does a blue and red shift of absorption lines in a spectrum indicate?

Blue shift is a decrease of a signal's wavelength, and/or an increase in its frequency, due to the Doppler Effect. This indicates that the object is moving towards the observer.Red shift is the increase of a signal's wavelength, and/or a decrease in its frequency, due to the Doppler Effect. This indicates that the object is moving away from the observer.


How does a forensic scientist use color to analyze light behavior?

By spectrum analyses. Color and shift in colors can indicate properties of light source as well as relative position. Fluorescent materials can also be used.


What happen if a light move closer to the object?

The redshift that scientists speak of in stars, indicating that they are moving away, is complemented by a shift toward the blue in the spectrum by light moving toward a viewer.


Doppler effect states that the motion of any object can?

Shift the wavelength of the spectrum.