Two ground-based telescopes observe a binary star using light on a night when…

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Astrophysics · Astrophysics

Problem

Two ground-based telescopes observe a binary star using

550\,\text{nm}

light on a night when atmospheric seeing limits resolution to

0.40\,\text{arc-sec}

. Telescope

T_1

has a

1\,\text{m}

objective and telescope

T_2

has a

2\,\text{m}

objective. The angular separation of the binary components is

0.35\,\text{arc-sec}

. Which statement is correct?

(1\,\text{arc-sec}=4.85\times10^{-6}\,\text{rad})

(a) Only

T_1

can resolve the binary (b) Only

T_2

can resolve the binary (c) Neither

T_1

nor

T_2

can resolve the binary (d) Both

T_1

and

T_2

can resolve the binary