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The sheets are inspected for crack flaws after fabrication, but the inspection device cannot detect flaws smaller than 5 mm. What is the limitation of the inspection device?

User Loufi
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Final answer:

The inspection device's limitation is that it cannot detect crack flaws smaller than 5 mm due to its resolution being limited by wavelength, similar to how microscopes and CT scanners are limited by the wave nature of light.

Step-by-step explanation:

The limitation of the inspection device in question is that it cannot detect crack flaws smaller than 5 mm. This limitation likely exists because the resolution of the device is not high enough to discern smaller details. In many types of imaging and inspection technologies, such as CT scanners and microscopes, wavelength plays a crucial role in determining the resolution. Wavelength is the distance between consecutive peaks of a wave, and the resolution of a detector is typically limited to details approximately the size of the wavelength used. For example, visible light microscopes have limitations on the size of objects they can resolve because of the diffraction of light, and CT scanners typically cannot resolve details smaller than about half a millimeter due to the wavelength of the x-rays used.

In the context provided, if flaws are smaller than the resolution of the inspection device, they become undetectable. Methods to overcome this limitation can involve using imaging analysis software to enhance image quality or employing alternative inspection technologies that can detect smaller flaws.

User Dmitry Mottl
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