The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780134874364
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Megan O. Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, Mark Voit
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 6, Problem 53EAP
Diffraction Limit of the Eye.
- Calculate the diffraction limit of the human eye, assuming a wide-open pupil so that your eye acts like a lens with a diameter of 0.8 centimeter, for visible light of 500- nanometer wavelength. How does this compare to the diffraction limit of a 10-meter telescope?
- Now remember that humans have two eyes that are approximately 7 centimeters apart. Estimate the diffraction limit for human vision, assuming that your two eyes act as an “optical interferometer” that gives you the angular resolution of a single “eye” that is 7 centimeters in diameter.
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The diffraction limit, the smallest angle in degrees that can be resolved, is 250,000 arcsec × (wavelength/diameter of telescope). Humans have two eyes separated by about 7.8 cm and a marvelous computer between their ears. If this optical interferometer is just as good as one eyeball and as large as the separation of two regular eyeballs, what is the diffraction limit in arcsec of human vision for visible light at 525 nm?
Assume that a spy satellite in orbit carries a telescope that can resolve objects on the ground as small as the width of a car’s license plate.
If the satellite is in orbit at 400 kmkm above the earth’s surface (which is typical for orbiting telescopes) and it focuses light of wavelength 500 nmnm , what minimum diameter of the mirror (or objective lens) would be needed (Take the width of a typical license plate to be about 30 cmcm )?
Express your answer in centimeters.
The telescope of a spy satellite is reputed to be able to resolve objects 9 cm apart from an altitude of 180 km above the surface of Earth.
1) What is the diameter, in meters, of the telescope’s aperture, if its resolution is limited only by diffraction effects? Take 550 nm for the wavelength of light.
Chapter 6 Solutions
The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
Ch. 6 - Prob. 1VSCCh. 6 - Prob. 2VSCCh. 6 - Prob. 3VSCCh. 6 - Prob. 4VSCCh. 6 - How does your eye focus light? How is a glass lens...Ch. 6 - How does a camera record light? How are images...Ch. 6 - What are the two key properties of a telescope,...Ch. 6 - What is the diffraction limit, and how does it...Ch. 6 - How do reflecting telescopes differ from...Ch. 6 - What are the three basic categories of...
Ch. 6 - Prob. 7EAPCh. 6 - What do we mean by spectral resolution? Why is...Ch. 6 - List at least three ways in which Earth's...Ch. 6 - 10. Describe how deeply each portion of the...Ch. 6 - Prob. 11EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 12EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 13EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 14EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 15EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 16EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 17EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 18EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 19EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 20EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 21EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 22EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 23EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 24EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 25EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 26EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 27EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 28EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 29EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 30EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 31EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 32EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 37EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 38EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 39EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 40EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 41EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 42EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 43EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 44EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 45EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 46EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 50EAPCh. 6 - Close Binary System. Suppose that two stars in a...Ch. 6 - Prob. 52EAPCh. 6 - Diffraction Limit of the Eye. Calculate the...Ch. 6 - Prob. 54EAPCh. 6 - Prob. 55EAPCh. 6 - Hubble’s Field of View. Large telescopes often...Ch. 6 - Prob. 57EAPCh. 6 - Visible-Light Interferometry. Technological...
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