How does the resolution of a typical radio telescope compare with the resolution of a typical optical telescope?
A) Resolution becomes worse for longer wavelengths, so radio telescopes generally have poorer resolution.
B) Resolution becomes better for longer wavelengths, so radio telescopes generally have better resolution.
C) Resolution depends on both wavelength and telescope size. Because radio telescopes are so large, the resolution is about the same as for an optical system.
D) Resolution depends entirely on the separation of the objects being imaged, so radio and optical telescopes have the same resolution.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Resolution in telescopes is primarily determined by the wavelength of the light they are designed to observe and the size of the telescope. Since radio waves are much longer in wavelength than visible light, and despite radio telescopes often being much larger than optical telescopes, the resolution of radio telescopes is generally poorer than that of optical telescopes.

How Does the Resolution of a Typical Radio Telescope Compare