Final answer:
The main difference between refracting telescopes and microscopes lies in the placement of the real object and the intermediate image.
Telescopes are used for viewing distant objects, while microscopes are used for viewing objects that are very close. Telescopes only use an eyepiece for magnification, while microscopes use multiple lenses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Refracting telescopes and microscopes have similar arrangements of lenses but serve different purposes.
The main difference between them lies in the placement of the real object and the intermediate image. In a refracting telescope, the real object is far away and the intermediate image is smaller than the object.
On the other hand, in a microscope, the real object is very close, and the intermediate image is larger than the object.
Additionally, telescopes only use an eyepiece for magnification, while microscopes use multiple lenses for both magnification and resolving power.