How is the mass of an exoplanet typically measured to determine its bulk density?
Answer
Measuring the wobble it induces on its parent star via radial velocity.
Determining if an exoplanet is rocky requires calculating its density, which mandates knowing both its volume (radius) and its mass. While the radius is often found using the transit method—observing the amount of starlight the planet blocks—determining mass relies on the radial velocity method. This technique involves observing the minute gravitational tug the orbiting planet exerts on its host star, causing a periodic 'wobble' in the star's light spectrum. By quantifying this wobble, scientists can calculate the planet's mass, which, when divided by its volume, yields the bulk density essential for classification.
#Videos
Explore the Solar System: The Rocky Planets - YouTube
Related Questions
What primary materials constitute the bulk of a terrestrial planet?Which four inner Solar System planets exemplify terrestrial worlds?Why could only rock and metal solidify near the early, hot Sun?What is the general layering blueprint of a terrestrial planet's interior?Why do smaller bodies like asteroids maintain irregular, potato-like shapes?What characteristic separates Venus from other terrestrial planets like Mars?What transition occurs when a massive planet accretes too much hydrogen and helium?How is the mass of an exoplanet typically measured to determine its bulk density?What is notable about Mercury's metallic core in relation to its overall size?Besides initial composition, what critical factor retains a planet's terrestrial classification?