Question 1

Resolution depends on the size of scope and _______.&#10;A) wavelength&#10;B) focus&#10;C) lenses&#10;D) mirrors

Accepted Answer

Resolution depends on the size of the scope and the wavelength of light being used. Shorter wavelengths can provide higher resolution.

Question 2

When light goes past an edge it creates a ________ pattern.&#10;A) diffraction&#10;B) refection&#10;C) refraction&#10;D) dispersion

Accepted Answer

When light passes by the edge of an object, it bends around it, creating a pattern known as diffraction. This phenomenon is due to the wave nature of light.

Question 3

The resolution of the radio telescope is poor because of its _______.&#10;A) small size&#10;B) bad location&#10;C) atmosphere&#10;D) use of long wavelengths

Accepted Answer

The resolution of a radio telescope is primarily limited by its use of long wavelengths. Longer wavelengths result in poorer resolution compared to shorter wavelengths, such as those used in optical telescopes. This is a fundamental principle of wave physics, where the ability to distinguish fine details (resolution) is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the radiation being observed.

Question 4

The resolution of a telescope means&#10;A) the brightness of the image it makes.&#10;B) the magnification of the image it makes.&#10;C) the level of detail in the image it makes.&#10;D) the stability of the image it makes.

Accepted Answer

The resolution of a telescope refers to its ability to distinguish small details and separate objects that are close together in the sky, essentially determining the level of detail visible in the image it produces.

Question 5

When waves of light add or subtract to each other this causes a pattern of _________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When waves of light add or subtract...

Question 6

The uses of combining light from several telescopes are called a(an) ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The uses of combining light from several...

Question 7

The longer the wavelength the better the resolution.

Accepted Answer

Resolution improves with shorter wavelengths because shorter wavelengths allow for finer details to be distinguished, according to the principles of wave optics.

Question 8

The VLBA can achieve the resolution of a telescope 10000 km across.

Accepted Answer

The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) uses a technique called very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), which links telescopes across vast distances, effectively creating a telescope with the resolution of an antenna as large as the maximum separation between the telescopes. The VLBA consists of ten radio telescopes spread across the United States, from Hawaii to the U.S. Virgin Islands, allowing it to achieve the resolution of a single dish up to 10,000 kilometers in diameter.

Deck 31: Telescope Resolution