223k views
5 votes
Why do radio waves require large telescopes?

A. Radio waves have longer wavelengths
B. Radio waves have shorter wavelengths
C. Radio waves are affected by atmospheric distortion
D. Radio waves move faster

User Dfichter
by
6.7k points

1 Answer

0 votes

Final answer:

Radio waves require large telescopes because they have longer wavelengths, necessitating a larger aperture to achieve sufficient resolution. Radio interferometry can also be used to improve this resolution (A).

Step-by-step explanation:

Radio waves require large telescopes because radio waves have longer wavelengths than those of visible light. A telescope’s ability to resolve fine detail, known as its resolution, is dependent on its aperture as well as the wavelength of the radiation it is detecting. To achieve good resolution with long-wavelength radio waves, radio telescopes need to have a large diameter. This compensates for the longer wavelengths and allows for adequate resolution. Additionally, to further improve resolution, a technique called radio interferometry is used where two or more radio telescopes are linked together electronically, forming an interferometer.

Radio waves require large telescopes because they have longer wavelengths. The longer the wavelength, the harder it is to resolve fine details in images or maps. Radio waves have such long wavelengths that even the largest radio telescopes on Earth cannot make out as much detail as small visible-light telescopes used in college astronomy labs. To overcome this challenge, astronomers use a technique called radio interferometry, which involves linking two or more radio telescopes together to improve resolution.

User Petar Tonev
by
8.6k points