The H$\alpha$ line is a prominent hydrogen spectral line often used by astronomers to measure redshift. For a source that is not moving, the wavelength of the H$\alpha$ line is 656.3 nm.
Assume that a star is moving away from Earth at a velocity of 51.30 km s$^{-1}$. What change in wavelength ($\Delta\lambda$) will an astronomer on Earth measure for the H$\alpha$ line? Consider the speed of light, c, equal to 2.998 x 10$^{5}$ km s$^{-1}$.
$\Delta\lambda$ = 0.1124
Correct Answer
What is the new wavelength that the astronomer will measure for the H$\alpha$ line? Express the answer to the fourth decimal place.
new wavelength: 656.4124
Incorrect Answer