An astronomical refracting telescope has an objective lens of diameter 450 mm450\text{ mm}450 mm and a focal length of 6.00 m6.00\text{ m}6.00 m.
Determine the minimum angular resolution of this telescope when observing light at a wavelength of 5.4×10−7 m5.4 \times 10^{-7}\text{ m}5.4×10−7 m.
The telescope is used to observe a binary star system whose components subtend an angle equal to the minimum angular resolution calculated in part 1. A typical observer has an eye with a minimum angular resolution of 2.4×10−4 rad2.4 \times 10^{-4}\text{ rad}2.4×10−4 rad. Calculate the focal length of the eyepiece lens required so that the observer can just resolve the two stars when viewing through the telescope.
The asteroid Pallas has a diameter of 5.1×105 m5.1 \times 10^5\text{ m}5.1×105 m. At its closest approach to Earth, its distance from the observatory is 1.2×108 km1.2 \times 10^8\text{ km}1.2×108 km. The telescope is equipped with the eyepiece calculated in part 2 to view Pallas. Deduce whether this setup is suitable to obtain a detailed view of Pallas's surface. Support your answer with a calculation.
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.