Physics A-Level
Red-shift and blue-shift
What Red-shift and blue-shift means in Physics A-Level, as defined for OCR.
Definition of Red-shift and blue-shift
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Red-shift and blue-shift in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
For a receding source the observed wavelength increases and frequency decreases, while for an approaching source the wavelength decreases and frequency increases.
Topics that use Red-shift and blue-shift
- Cosmology (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Age of the universe
- Astronomical distance units
- Baseline
- Big Bang nucleosynthesis
- Big Bang theory
- Cosmic microwave background
- Cosmic microwave background radiation
- Cosmological redshift
Using Red-shift and blue-shift in the exam
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