Question

Which of the following symbols represents the minimum distance that two points in a

specimen must be separated by in order to be resolved?
A) d
B) λ
C) n
D) α
E) N. A.

Answer 1

The symbol that represents the minimum distance for resolving two points in a specimen is 'N. A.', standing for Numerical Aperture, which is crucial for optical instruments' resolving power.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symbol that represents the minimum distance that two points in a specimen must be separated by in order to be resolved is N. A., which stands for Numerical Aperture. This term is associated with the resolving power of an optical instrument, such as a microscope or a telescope. The Rayleigh criterion for the diffraction limit to resolution, formulated by Lord Rayleigh, states that two images are resolvable if the center of one diffraction pattern is directly over the first minimum of another diffraction pattern. This can be represented by the formula θ = 1.22 λ/D. However, when discussing the resolving power directly in terms of separation, we usually refer to the Numerical Aperture (N. A.) of the lens system.

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