The Royal Observatory in Edinburgh includes two optical telescopes attached to the same mount, so that they can be used to view the same astronomical object. Some of the properties of these telescopes are summarised in Table 1.
| Telescope | Type | Objective diameter / mm |
|---|---|---|
| P | refractor | 100 |
| Q | reflector | 500 |
The telescopes are used to view the same object. Suggest which telescope in Table 1 produces the brighter image. Support your answer with a suitable calculation.
The minimum angular resolution of a telescope can be determined using the Rayleigh criterion. Explain what is meant by the Rayleigh criterion.
Discuss which of the two telescopes in Table 1 would be better at resolving the images of two objects that are close together.
