An array of telescopes work together as an interferometer. How would the interferometer's performance change if the same telescopes were used but were spaced farther apart?
A) The resolving power and the light-collecting power would increase.
B) The resolving power would increase and the light-collecting power would stay the same.
C) The resolving power and the light-collecting power would decrease.
D) The resolving power would decrease and the light-collecting power would stay the same.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Spacing telescopes farther apart in an interferometer increases the resolving power by creating a larger effective aperture, allowing finer details to be distinguished. However, the light-collecting power, determined by the total area of the telescopes' mirrors or dishes, remains unchanged.

An Array of Telescopes Work Together as an Interferometer