Final answer:
A charged coupled device (CCD) has higher sensitivity to light and a higher level of signal-to-noise ratio than an analog pick-up tube, making it highly efficient for digital imaging and astronomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question - A charged coupled device (CCD) has _ sensitivity to light and a _ level of signal-to-noise ratio than an analog pick-up tube - is option 2, which means that a CCD has higher sensitivity to light and a higher level of signal-to-noise ratio compared to an analog pick-up tube. This is because CCDs are highly efficient electronic detectors that convert light signals into electronic signals with high fidelity. They are capable of recording a significant percentage of the photons that strike their surface, which translates into high sensitivity and enables them to detect much fainter objects. Moreover, they tend to have a high signal-to-noise ratio, providing clearer and more precise measurements which are crucial in applications like astronomy.
When we discuss the role of CCDs in digital imaging and astronomy, it's important to highlight their ability to produce digital outputs that are easily processed and analyzed on a computer, offering a significant advantage over older photographic methods that relied on light-sensitive chemicals.