Which of the following pairings of telescope diameter and observational wavelength would give the best resolution images of an object with a telescope? Explain why you chose the telescope and wavelength combination you did, and calculate the angular resolution you could achieve with it.  It would be best to observe with... Option 1:   a 10 m diameter optical telescope on the ground with λ= 550 nm Option 2:  a 2.4 m diameter optical telescope in space with λ=500 nm  Option 3:  a 100 m radio telescope on the ground with λ=100 cm

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Which of the following pairings of telescope diameter and observational wavelength would give the best resolution images of an object with a telescope? Explain why you chose the telescope and wavelength combination you did, and calculate the angular resolution you could achieve with it. 

It would be best to observe with...

Option 1:   a 10 m diameter optical telescope on the ground with λ= 550 nm

Option 2:  a 2.4 m diameter optical telescope in space with λ=500 nm 

Option 3:  a 100 m radio telescope on the ground with λ=100 cm 

Expert Solution
Step 1 Formula used

The resolving power of a telescope is given by,

R = 1θ= d1.22 λ

where θ is the angular resolution of the telescope, d is the diameter of the telescope and λ is the observational wavelength.

Resolving power is proportional to the diameter of the telescope and inversely proportional to the observational wavelength.  

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