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Chapter 6: Problem 7

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

Short Answer

Expert verified
Magnifying power is an important factor in evaluating telescopes but it shouldn't be the only criterion. Other factors like aperture, resolution, quality of optics and stability of the mount also significantly contribute to the effectiveness of a telescope.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Magnification

Magnification is the ability to enlarge the image of a distant object. This depends on the focal length of the telescope and the eyepiece. While magnification is an important aspect of a telescope, it is not the only criterion to consider.
02

Consider Other Factors

Telescopes should also be evaluated based on other parameters. Important elements include aperture(the diameter of the lens or mirror that gathers light), resolution (the ability to distinguish between two close objects), stability of the mount, and the quality of the optics, which influences the clarity and sharpness of the image.
03

Conclusion

So while advertisements often emphasize magnification, it isn't necessarily the best evaluation criterion by itself. A good telescope would present a balance between good magnification, large aperture, high resolution, good quality optics and a stable mount. It's therefore necessary to consider these factors along with magnification when evaluating a telescope's quality.

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