Resolving Power (conceptual)
Resolving power of optical instrument improves when?
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About This Question
- Subject
- physics
- Chapter
- optics
- Topic
- resolving power (conceptual)
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Aperture increases
- Definition: Resolving power is the ability of an instrument to show two closely spaced objects as separate entities.
- Rayleigh Criterion: Two points are just resolved when the central maximum of one diffraction pattern falls on the first minimum of the other.
- Limit of Resolution ((\Delta \theta)): For a circular aperture of diameter D:
- Δθ=D1.22λ.
- Resolving Power (R.P.): Defined as the reciprocal of the limit of resolution: R.P.=1.22λD.
- Optimization:
- To increase R.P., we must increase the aperture (D) or decrease the wavelength (λ).
- Conclusion: Larger telescope mirrors (larger aperture) provide better resolution.
This hard difficulty physics question is from the chapter optics, covering the topic of resolving power (conceptual). It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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