21st Century Astronomy 6E
21st Century Astronomy 6E
6th Edition
ISBN: 9780393690675
Author: Laura Kay, Stacy Palen, George Blumenthal
Publisher: W. W. Norton
bartleby

Concept explainers

Question
Book Icon
Chapter 6, Problem 1QP
To determine

The correct statement about the telescopes having different aperture size.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1QP

Option (c)

Explanation of Solution

Light gathering power of a telescope is proportional to the square of aperture.

    Pπ(D2)2

Here, P is the light gathering power of a telescope and D is the aperture size.

Conclusion:

The equation shows that higher the aperture size, higher will be the light gathering power. Thus, option (c) is correct.

20 cm telescope will have less gathering power. Thus, option (a) is incorrect.

Image size is not related to aperture size. Thus, option (b) and (d) are incorrect.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
A telescope that suffers from chromatic aberration and has a low light-gathering power is most likely a(n)   a. small diameter reflecting telescope.   b. small diameter refracting telescope.   c. large diameter refracting telescope.   d. large diameter reflecting telescope   e. infrared telescope.
Which of the following telescopes must be used above Earth’s atmosphere?   a. an optical telescope   b. the VLBI telescope   c. an X-ray telescope   d. a radio telescope   e. none of the above
A new generation of telescopes is currently being built that overcomes the limitations of the older large telescopes. Some of these new telescopes   a. use segmented mirrors.   b. use mirrors that are very thin.   c. use active optics to control the shape of the mirror.   d. do all of the above.   e. do none of the above.
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Physics
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...
Physics
ISBN:9781305960961
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax