What happens to a telescope's light-gathering power and resolving power when you increase its diameter?
A)Its light-gathering power and resolving power both increase.
B)Its light-gathering power increases and its resolving power decreases.
C)Its light-gathering power decreases and its resolving power increases.
D)Its light-gathering power and resolving power both decrease.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When you increase a telescope's diameter, its light-gathering power increases because a larger area collects and focuses more light. The resolving power also increases due to the phenomenon of diffraction, which causes small details to appear sharper as the diameter of the telescope increases. Therefore, both the light-gathering power and resolving power of a telescope increase with an increase in its diameter.

What Happens to a Telescope's Light-Gathering Power and Resolving Power