Tom has a 4-inch refracting telescope, and Steve has a 3-inch reflecting telescope. Whose telescope has a higher resolving power?
A) Tom's, because lenses are more efficient in showing the objects separately.
B) Steve's, because mirrors are more efficient in showing the objects separately.
C) Tom's, because the larger the diameter, the better the resolution.
D) Steve's, because the smaller the diameter, the better the resolution.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The resolving power of a telescope is directly related to the diameter of its aperture. A larger diameter allows for better resolution, so Tom's 4-inch telescope has a higher resolving power than Steve's 3-inch telescope.

Tom Has a 4-Inch Refracting Telescope, and Steve Has a 3-Inch