182k views
4 votes
The most important reason for making telescopes very large is to magnify images.
True or False

User B Cotter
by
7.7k points

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

The main reason for making telescopes large is not for magnification, but to collect more faint light from distant celestial objects and to provide sharper images due to better resolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the most important reason for making telescopes very large is to magnify images is False. The primary functions of a telescope are to collect faint light from astronomical sources and to focus this light into a point or an image. Large telescopes are able to collect more light, which is crucial for studying faint celestial objects and improving visibility of details. Additionally, while magnification is an important aspect of telescopes, achieved through the use of an eyepiece that magnifies the focused image, this is not the primary reason for increasing telescope size.

Larger telescope apertures also provide better resolution, which means sharper images, and this is one factor that is greatly improved by having a larger telescope. It is worth mentioning that there are telescopes designed for the entire range of the electromagnetic spectrum, not just visible light, and some are specialized in specific bands like radio or X-rays.

User Rodney Lambert
by
8.4k points