Radio waves have wavelengths that are typically many centimeters, or even meters. Radio telescopes also tend to have diameters that are much larger than optical telescopes. They are sometimes 25, 50, even 100 m in diameter. In fact, the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico is about 300 m in diameter. How does the resolution of the Arecibo telescope observing radio waves of wavelength 10 cm compare to that of a 1-m diameter optical telescope observing in green light with a wavelength of 500 nm? Explain why radio telescopes are so large.

Radio waves have wavelengths that are typically many centimeters, or even meters. Radio telescopes also tend to have diameters that are much larger than optical telescopes. They are sometimes 25, 50, even 100 m in diameter. In fact, the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico is about 300 m in diameter. How does the resolution of the Arecibo telescope observing radio waves of wavelength 10 cm compare to that of a 1-m diameter optical telescope observing in green light with a wavelength of 500 nm? Explain why radio telescopes are so large.