Chapter 35, Problem 42P

Astronomers often take photographs with the objective lens or mirror of a telescope alone, without an eyepiece. (a) Show that the image size h′ for such a telescope is given by h′ = fh/(f − p), where f is the objective focal length, h is the object size, and p is the object distance. (b) What If? Simplify the expression in part (a) for the case in which the object distance is much greater than objective focal length. (c) The “wingspan” of the International Space Station is 108.6 m, the overall width of its solar panel configuration. When the station is orbiting at an altitude of 407 km, find the width of the image formed by a telescope objective of focal length 4.00 m.