Question

Using a refracting telescope, you observe the planet mars when it is 1.95 x 10¹¹ m from earth. The diameter of the telescope's objective lens is 0.993 m. What is the minimum feature size, in kilometers, on the surface of Mars?

Answer 1

The minimum feature size on the surface of Mars can be calculated using the formula: Minimum feature size = Diameter of objective lens * angular size of Mars. Plugging in the values, we find that the minimum feature size on Mars is approximately 191,100 km.

Step-by-step explanation:

The minimum feature size on the surface of Mars can be calculated using the formula:

Minimum feature size = Diameter of objective lens * angular size of Mars

To find the angular size of Mars, we need to use the small angle approximation formula:

Angular size = Diameter of Mars / Distance from Earth to Mars

Plugging in the values, we get:

Angular size = (0.993 m) * (1.95 x 10^11 m) = 1.932 x 10^11 m

Finally, we can calculate the minimum feature size on Mars:

Minimum feature size = (0.993 m) * (1.932 x 10^11 m) = 1.911 x 10^11 m

Converting to kilometers, the minimum feature size on the surface of Mars is approximately 191,100 km.