The Palomar reflecting telescope has a parabolic mirror with an 80-m focal length.What is the magnification achieved when an eyepiece of focal length 5.0 cm is used?
A) 1200
B) 800
C) 3200
D) 1600

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The magnification of a telescope with an objective of focal length f1 and an eyepiece of focal length f2 is given by:
m = -f1/f2
Substituting the given values:
m = - (80 m) / (5.0 cm) = -1600
The negative sign indicates that the image is inverted, which is typical for astronomical telescopes. Therefore, the correct answer is D) 1600.

The Palomar Reflecting Telescope Has a Parabolic Mirror with an 80-M