Chapter 2: Problem 15

Quite often advertisements appear for telescopes that extol their magnifying power. Is this a good criterion for evaluating telescopes? Explain your answer.

Short Answer

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Short Answer: Magnifying power is an important factor in evaluating telescopes, as it determines the level of detail visible when observing distant objects. However, it is not the only criterion to consider. Aperture size, focal length, and the quality of optical components also play crucial roles in determining the overall performance and image quality of a telescope. Therefore, magnifying power alone is not a sufficient criterion for evaluating telescopes.

Step by step solution

Importance of Magnifying Power in Telescopes

Magnifying power, or magnification, is an important aspect of a telescope as it determines how much larger objects appear when viewed through the telescope compared to the naked eye. It allows observers to see small or far away objects in greater detail, hence it is often a highly advertised feature of telescopes. However, the magnification of a telescope is not the only factor to consider when evaluating its performance.

Aperture Size and its Effect on Telescopes

The aperture size of a telescope is the diameter of its main lens or mirror, which collects light from the observed object. A larger aperture allows more light to be gathered, resulting in a brighter and clearer image. This is especially important for observing faint objects, such as distant galaxies and nebulae. In this sense, aperture size is considered a more critical factor compared to magnifying power.

Focal Length: Its Relationship with Magnification

The focal length of a telescope is the distance between its primary lens or mirror and the point where it focuses the gathered light. A longer focal length results in a higher magnification, given the same eyepiece. However, the magnification can be adjusted by changing the eyepiece, meaning that any telescope can achieve a wide range of magnifications. For this reason, evaluating a telescope based solely on magnifying power may not be sufficient.

Quality of Optical Components

The quality of the optical components in a telescope, such as the lenses and mirrors, has a significant impact on the overall performance and quality of the observed image. High-quality components reduce optical aberrations and ensure a sharp and clear image. Therefore, merely having a high magnifying power does not guarantee a good quality image if the optical components are not of high quality.

Conclusion

While magnifying power is an important aspect of a telescope, it is not the only criterion to consider when evaluating its performance. Factors such as aperture size, focal length, and the quality of the optical components are equally, if not more, important for determining the overall performance and image quality of a telescope. Consequently, magnifying power alone should not be considered as a sufficient criterion for evaluating telescopes.

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Quite often advertisements appear for telescopes that extol their magnifying power. Is this a good criterion for evaluating telescopes? Explain your answer.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Importance of Magnifying Power in Telescopes

Aperture Size and its Effect on Telescopes

Focal Length: Its Relationship with Magnification

Quality of Optical Components

Conclusion

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