College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 24 - Conceptual Questions - Page 934: 4

Answer

A refracting telescope with a large angular magnification requires a longer focal length objective lens in order to produce a larger magnified image. This means that the telescope tube must be longer in order to accommodate the longer lens. In contrast, a telescope with a smaller angular magnification can use a shorter focal length objective lens and therefore have a shorter telescope tube. This is because the size of the image is inversely proportional to the focal length of the lens. A longer focal length lens forms a smaller image, thus the telescope must be longer.

Work Step by Step

A refracting telescope with a large angular magnification requires a longer focal length objective lens in order to produce a larger magnified image. This means that the telescope tube must be longer in order to accommodate the longer lens. In contrast, a telescope with a smaller angular magnification can use a shorter focal length objective lens and therefore have a shorter telescope tube. This is because the size of the image is inversely proportional to the focal length of the lens. A longer focal length lens forms a smaller image, thus the telescope must be longer.
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