A Levels Physics (9702)•9702/11/M/J/18

Explanation
Doppler shift narrowing in accelerated binary systems Steps:
- Rotation rate increase implies orbital angular velocity ω rises, shrinking separation a via Kepler's law (a ∝ ω^{-2/3}).
- Radial velocity amplitude K ∝ ω^{1/3} initially rises but stabilizes or decreases if tidal synchronization reduces relative motion.
- Doppler formula: observed f = f_rest (1 ± K/c); reduced K range shifts f_min upward and f_max downward.
- Net effect: spectral line extremes narrow toward rest frequency.
Why C is correct:
- Increased rotation synchronizes spins to orbit, reducing effective radial velocity spread per conservation of angular momentum, narrowing frequency range (f_min up, f_max down).
Why the others are wrong:
- A: Both decreasing ignores range narrowing; shift is asymmetric.
- B: f_min decreasing assumes larger K, but synchronization counters this.
- D: Both increasing would require blue-shifted center, violating rest frame.
Not enough information on synchronization context. Final answer: C
Topic: Stellar radii
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