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Chapter 2: Problem 13

Which dimensions of the telescope determine its light-gathering power?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The aperture, or the diameter of the main lens or mirror, is the dimension of a telescope that determines its light-gathering power. A larger aperture allows for the collection of more light, resulting in higher light-gathering power, improved image quality, and the visibility of fainter celestial objects.

Step by step solution

01

Understand light-gathering power

Light-gathering power is the ability of a telescope to collect light and form an image. It depends on the amount of light a telescope can collect from celestial objects. The more light it can gather, the better the image quality and the visibility of fainter celestial objects.
02

Identify the relevant dimension of a telescope

The most important dimension of a telescope that determines its light-gathering power is its aperture, which is the diameter of the main lens or mirror that collects the light. Telescopes with larger apertures can collect more light and therefore have a higher light-gathering power.
03

Understanding the relationship between aperture and light-gathering power

The light-gathering power of a telescope is proportional to the square of its aperture. Mathematically, this is expressed as: Light-gathering Power ∝ Aperture^2 So, if we double the aperture of a telescope, its light-gathering power increases by a factor of four. In conclusion, the dimension of a telescope that determines its light-gathering power is its aperture. A larger aperture allows for the collection of more light and hence results in higher light-gathering power, which improves image quality and the visibility of faint celestial objects.

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