A scientific satellite orbits Mars at an altitude of 420 km420\text{ km}420 km above the surface. The on-board imaging system uses a telescope with an aperture diameter of 0.25 m0.25\text{ m}0.25 m operating at a green wavelength of 500 nm500\text{ nm}500 nm.
Evaluate whether this telescope is capable of resolving individual boulders with a diameter of 3.5 m3.5\text{ m}3.5 m on the Martian surface.
A proposed extremely large ground-based telescope has an aperture diameter of 12.5 m12.5\text{ m}12.5 m. Compare the collecting power of this ground-based telescope with that of the satellite-borne telescope.
Discuss why a reflecting telescope, such as a Cassegrain reflector, is preferred over a refracting telescope for this satellite mission.
18 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Physics Telescopes (A-level only), covering Astronomical telescope consisting of two converging lenses (A-level only), Reflecting telescopes (A-level only), Single dish radio telescopes, I-R, U-V and X-ray telescopes (A-level only), and Advantages of large diameter telescopes (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.