Final answer:
The amount of detail or sharpness in a digital image is termed spatial resolution, which signifies how well an imaging system can distinguish fine details, with factors like the number of pixels and lens quality being crucial to achieving high resolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of detail or sharpness in a digital image is termed spatial resolution. Spatial resolution refers to the precision of detail present in an image, which is the smallest features that can be distinguished. It's the ability of an imaging system to resolve fine detail in the object that is being photographed or scanned. In terms of digital cameras and telescopes, high spatial resolution means that the smallest possible objects can be seen clearly and separately from one another, resulting in a sharper and more detailed image.
Resolution is determined by several factors, including the number of pixels in the image sensor and the optical quality of the lens system. For example, using optical zoom instead of digital zoom can help maintain high resolution because optical zoom changes the magnification by adjusting the lens, without affecting the actual number of pixels used to capture the image, whereas digital zoom enlarges the existing pixels, potentially leading to a pixelated and lower-resolution image.