Question

The Hubble Space Telescope in orbit above the Earth has a 2.4 m circular aperture. The telescope has equipment for detecting ultraviolet light. What is the minimum angular separation between two objects that the Hubble Space Telescope can resolve in ultraviolet light of wavelength 95 nm?

Answer 1

minimum angular separation between two objects is; θ = 4.829 x 10^(-8) rad

Step-by-step explanation:

The minimum angle for resolving two adjacent point objects is proportional to the wavelength of the light and is inversely proportional to the diameter of the aperture and it's given by the formula;

θ = 1.22λ/D

Where;

θ is the resolved angle

λ is the wavelength

D is the diameter of the optics

We are given;

λ = 95nm = 95 x 10^(-9)m

D = 2.4m

Thus ;

θ = (1.22(95 x 10^(-9))/2.4

θ = 4.829 rad

Thus, minimum angular separation between two objects is; θ = 4.829 x 10^(-8) rad