The resolution of a telescope is ultimately limited by the diameter of its objective lens or mirror. A typical amateur astronomer’s telescope may have a 7.0 in. -diameter mirror.
A. What is the minimum angular separation (in arc seconds) of two stars that can be resolved with a 7.0 in. scope? (Take A?» to be at the center of the visible spectrum, about 550 nm, and note that 1 arc sec = 1/3600 Acˆ?o)
B. What is the minimum distance (in km) between two points on the Moon’s surface that can be resolved by a 7.0 in. . scope? (Note: The average distance from Earth to the Moon is 384,400 km.)
