Question

A binary star system in the constellation orion has an angular separation of 10-5 rad. if the wavelength of the light from the system is 500 nm, what is the smallest aperture (diameter) telescope that can just resolve two stars?

Answer 1

The answer is: Diameter = d = 6.1 cm

Step-by-step explanation:
Angular separation between the two stars = Q = 10^-5 rad.
Wavelength =λ= 500 * 10^-9 m
The smallest diameter = d = ?

As Q = 1.22*(λ/ d)

From this
d = 1.22*(λ/Q) --- (1)

Plug in the value in (1):
(1) => d = 1.22*((500*10^-9)/10^-5))
d = 0.061 m
d = 6.1 cm