Question

Suppose a certain person’s visual acuity is such that he can see objects clearly that form an image 4.00 μm high on his retina. What is the maximum distance at which he can read the 75.0 cm high letters on the side of an airplane?

a) 1.88 km
b) 3.75 km
c) 7.50 km
d) 15.00 km

Answer 1

The maximum distance at which a person can read the 75.0 cm high letters on the side of an airplane is 4.00 µm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The maximum distance at which a person can read the 75.0 cm high letters on the side of an airplane can be found using the concept of visual acuity. Visual acuity is the ability to see fine details. In this case, the person's visual acuity is such that they can see objects clearly that form an image 4.00 µm high on their retina.

To calculate the maximum distance, we can use similar triangles. The height of the object on the retina (4.00 µm) is proportional to the actual height of the object (75.0 cm). Using this proportion, we can set up the following equation:

(4.00 µm)/(75.0 cm) = (maximum distance)/(actual height of object)

Solving for the maximum distance, we get: maximum distance = (4.00 µm) * (75.0 cm) / (actual height of object)

Plugging in the given values, we have:

maximum distance = (4.00 µm) * (75.0 cm) / (75.0 cm) = 4.00 µm

So, the maximum distance at which the person can read the 75.0 cm high letters on the side of an airplane is 4.00 µm.