College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 25 - Conceptual Questions - Page 973: 3

Answer

Another reason why it is an advantage to make telescopes used in astronomy with large lenses or mirrors is to increase the resolving power of the telescope. The resolving power of a telescope refers to its ability to distinguish fine details in an object. The larger the lens or mirror of a telescope, the more light it can gather, and the more fine details it can resolve. This is because the larger the lens or mirror, the smaller the angle between two objects that the telescope can still distinguish as separate. This means that a larger telescope can see smaller and fainter objects, and can also see more detail in larger and brighter objects. This is especially important in the field of astronomy, where objects of interest are often very distant and faint, and it is crucial to be able to see as much detail as possible in order to understand their properties and behavior.

Work Step by Step

Another reason why it is an advantage to make telescopes used in astronomy with large lenses or mirrors is to increase the resolving power of the telescope. The resolving power of a telescope refers to its ability to distinguish fine details in an object. The larger the lens or mirror of a telescope, the more light it can gather, and the more fine details it can resolve. This is because the larger the lens or mirror, the smaller the angle between two objects that the telescope can still distinguish as separate. This means that a larger telescope can see smaller and fainter objects, and can also see more detail in larger and brighter objects. This is especially important in the field of astronomy, where objects of interest are often very distant and faint, and it is crucial to be able to see as much detail as possible in order to understand their properties and behavior.
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