Assuming a pupil diameter of 3 mm,what is the angular resolution of the human eye for light at the middle of the visible spectrum (550 nm)?
A)0.8°
B)0.2°
C)2 mrad
D)0.01°
E)2°

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The angular resolution of the human eye can be determined by Rayleigh's criterion, which states that two points are just resolved if the center of one diffraction pattern falls on the first minimum of the other. This can be expressed as:

θ = 1.22 λ/D

where θ is the angular resolution, λ is the wavelength of light, and D is the diameter of the pupil.

Substituting the given values, we get:

θ = 1.22 × 550 × 10^-9 m / 3 × 10^-3 m

θ ≈ 0.01° or 2 mrad

Therefore, the answer is D (0.01°).

Assuming a Pupil Diameter of 3 Mm,what Is the Angular