An astronomical telescope is aimed at two stars.

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Astrophysics · Astrophysics

Problem

An astronomical telescope is aimed at two stars. (i) The stars are 1.0 arcsecond1.0\,\text{arcsecond} apart and are observed with light of wavelength 650 nm650\,\text{nm}. Calculate the minimum diameter of the telescope’s objective needed to resolve them. (ii) If the same objective is later used with light of wavelength 450 nm450\,\text{nm}, find the new minimum angular separation (in arcseconds) that it can resolve.

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