When used at a wavelength of 1 micron,a telescope can resolve angles as small as 0.1 seconds of arc.How small an angle could the telescope resolve when used at a wavelength of 5 microns?
A)0.02 seconds of arc
B)0.004 seconds of arc
C)0.5 seconds of arc
D)0.25 seconds of arc

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The resolving power of a telescope is directly proportional to the wavelength of light it uses. Therefore, if the wavelength increases, the smallest angle it can resolve also increases. If at 1 micron it resolves 0.1 seconds of arc, at 5 microns (5 times the wavelength), it will resolve an angle 5 times larger, which is 0.5 seconds of arc.

When Used at a Wavelength of 1 Micron,a Telescope Can