Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 24 - Optical Instruments - Exercises and Problems - Page 714: 39

Answer

$15.3\;\rm km$

Work Step by Step

We know that Rayleigh’s criterion states that two objects separated by an angle $\alpha$ a are marginally resolvable when $\alpha=\theta_{\rm min}$ where $\theta_{\rm min}=1.22\lambda/D$ is the angular resolution of a lens of diameter $D$. Thus, $$\alpha=\dfrac{1.22\lambda}{D}$$ where $\lambda$ here is the wavelength inside your eye, so $\lambda=\lambda_{\rm air}/n_{\rm eye}$ $$\alpha=\dfrac{1.22\lambda_{\rm air}}{n_{\rm eye}D_{\rm pupil}}\tag1$$ For small angle approximation, $\tan\theta\approx\theta$, so $$\alpha=\dfrac{d}{L}\tag 2$$ where $d$ is the separation distance between the two headlights of the car and $L$ is the distance between the headlights and your eye at which the two headlights are marginally resolved. From (1) and (2), $$\dfrac{d}{L}=\dfrac{1.22\lambda_{\rm air}}{n_{\rm eye}D_{\rm pupil}} $$ Solving for $L$, $$L=\dfrac{n_{\rm eye}D_{\rm pupil} d} {1.22\lambda_{\rm air}}$$ Plugging the known; $$L=\dfrac{(1.33)(7\times 10^{-3}) (1.20)} {1.22(600\times 10^{-9})}=\bf 1.53\times 10^4 \;\rm m$$ $$L=\color{red}{\bf 15.3}\;\rm km$$
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