Paper 1, Section I, E
Part II, 2011
Light of wavelength emitted by a distant object is observed by us to have wavelength . The redshift of the object is defined by
Assuming that the object is at a fixed comoving distance from us in a homogeneous and isotropic universe with scale factor , show that
where is the time of emission and the time of observation (i.e. today).
[You may assume the non-relativistic Doppler shift formula for the shift in the wavelength of light emitted by a nearby object travelling with velocity at angle to the line of sight.]
Given that the object radiates energy per unit time, explain why the rate at which energy passes through a sphere centred on the object and intersecting the Earth is .