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Chapter 6: Problem 3

Explain why the light rays that enter a telescope from an astronomical object are essentially parallel.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Light rays that enter a telescope from an astronomical object can be considered parallel because of the substantial distance they've travelled from the object to the telescope. This distance is so large that any deviation or spread in the light rays is almost negligible, and they appear virtually parallel.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Light Rays

Light rays travel in straight lines. This is one of the principles of optics. When an astronomical object emits or reflects light, the rays travel out in all directions.
02

Light Rays and Distance

The distance between us and astronomical objects is usually quite large, measured in light-years. Because of the large distance, only a tiny fraction of those emitted or reflected rays will reach us on Earth.
03

Light Rays Entering a Telescope

The light rays that do reach us and enter the lens or mirror of a telescope will be spreading out from their point of origin. However, because of the vast distance they've travelled, by the time they reach us, they are virtually parallel. This is because the divergence of the rays - their spreading out - is incredibly small given the distance they have travelled.

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