9.1.1

Astronomical Telescopes

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Telescopes

Telescopes are designed for viewing distant objects. They produce an image that is larger than the actual image, which can be seen up-close and clearly.

Images

Images

  • Telescopes gather far more light than the eye.
    • This means that we can see dim objects as enlarged and much clearer.
  • An image is formed through an arrangement of lenses which can produce upright or inverted images.
Telescope lenses

Telescope lenses

  • A telescope is made of two lenses:
    • The concave eyepiece - the lens that we look through, which focuses the light.
    • The convex objective lens - this is the front lens, which gathers the light from distant objects.

Telescope Images

An image seen through a telescope is greatly magnified so that we can see even dim and distant objects clearly.

Definition of magnification

Definition of magnification

  • Magnification is the ratio between how large an object is without a lens and how large it is with a lens.
Calculating magnification

Calculating magnification

  • We measure how large an object is using angles.
  • The angle from a line to the middle of the object and a line to the top of an object from the eye is called the subtended angle.
  • Lens magnification is given by the ratio between the subtended angles:
    • Magnification = angle  subtended  by  the  magnified  imageangle  subtended  by  the  object  without  a  lens  in  place\frac{angle \;subtended\; by\; the\; magnified\; image}{angle\; subtended\; by\; the\; object\; without\; a\; lens\; in\; place}
Telescope magnification

Telescope magnification

  • A telescope has two lenses. This means that the magnification changes as each lens alters the image. The equation for the magnification of a telescope is:
    • Magnification = focal  length  of  the  objective  lensfocal  length  of  the  eyepiece\frac{focal\; length\; of\; the\; objective\; lens}{focal\; length\; of\; the\; eyepiece}
    • M=fofeM=\frac{{f_o}}{{f_e}}
Jump to other topics
1

Measurements & Errors

1.1

Measurements & Errors

1.1.1SI Base Units1.1.2Combining SI Units1.1.3Prefixes of Units1.1.4Standard Form1.1.5Converting Units1.1.6End of Topic Test - Units & Prefixes1.1.7Limitation of Physical Measurements1.1.8Uncertainty1.1.9Estimation1.1.10End of Topic Test - Measurements & Errors1.1.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Converting between SI1.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - SI & Area/Volume
2

Particles & Radiation

2.1

Particles

2.1.1Atomic Model2.1.2Specific Charge, Protons & Neutron Numbers2.1.3End of Topic Test - Atomic Model2.1.4Isotopes2.1.5Stable & Unstable Nuclei2.1.6End of Topic Test - Isotopes & Nuclei2.1.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Stable & Unstable Nuclei2.1.8Particles, Antiparticles & Photons2.1.9Particle Interactions2.1.10Classification of Particles2.1.11End of Topic Test - Particles & Interactions2.1.12Quarks & Antiquarks2.1.13Application of Conservation Laws2.1.14End of Topic Test - Leptons & Quarks2.1.15Exam-Style Question - Radioactive Decay
2.2

Electromagnetic Radiation & Quantum Phenomena

2.2.1The Photoelectric Effect2.2.2The Photoelectric Effect Explanation2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Photoelectric Effect2.2.4Collisions of Electrons with Atoms2.2.5Energy Levels & Photon Emission2.2.6Wave-Particle Duality2.2.7End of Topic Test - Absorption & Emission2.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Electron Volts2.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Converting eV & Joules
3

Waves

3.1

Progressive & Stationary Waves

3.1.1Progressive Waves3.1.2Wave Speed & Phase Difference3.1.3Longitudinal & Transverse Waves3.1.4End of Topic Test - Progressive Waves3.1.5Polarisation3.1.6Stationary Waves3.1.7Stationary Waves 23.1.8End of Topic Test - Polarisation & Stationary Wave3.1.9A-A* (AO3/4) - Stationary Waves
3.2

Refraction, Diffraction & Interference

3.2.1Interference3.2.2Interference 23.2.3End of Topic Test - Interference3.2.4Diffraction3.2.5Diffraction Gratings3.2.6End of Topic Test - Diffraction3.2.7Refraction at a Plane Surface3.2.8Internal Reflection & Fibre Optics3.2.9End of Topic Test - Refraction3.2.10Exam-Style Question - Waves
4

Mechanics & Materials

4.1

Force, Energy & Momentum

4.1.1Scalars & Vectors4.1.2Vector Problems4.1.3End of Topic Test - Scalars & Vectors4.1.4Moments4.1.5Centre of Mass4.1.6End of Topic Test - Moments & Centre of Mass4.1.7Motion in a Straight Line4.1.8Graphs of Motion4.1.9Bouncing Ball Example4.1.10End of Topic Test - Motion in a Straight Line4.1.11Acceleration Due to Gravity4.1.12Projectile Motion4.1.13Friction4.1.14Terminal Speed4.1.15End of Topic Test - Acceleration Due to Gravity4.1.16Newton's Laws4.1.17Momentum4.1.18Momentum 24.1.19End of Topic Test - Newton's Laws & Momentum4.1.20A-A* (AO3/4) - Newton's Third Law4.1.21Work & Energy4.1.22Power & Efficiency4.1.23Conservation of Energy4.1.24End of Topic Test - Work, Energy & Power4.1.25Exam-Style Question - Forces4.1.26Diagnostic Misconceptions - Perpendicular Vectors4.1.27Diagnostic Misconceptions - Weight Acts Downwards4.1.28Diagnostic Misconceptions - Acceleration Direction4.1.29Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stationary Objects4.1.30Diagnostic Misconceptions - Action & Reaction4.1.31Diagnostic Misconceptions - RF Direction4.1.32Diagnostic Misconceptions - RF Acceleration4.1.33Diagnostic Misconceptions - Change in Momentum
4.2

Materials

4.2.1Density4.2.2Bulk Properties of Solids4.2.3Energy in Materials4.2.4Young Modulus4.2.5End of Topic Test - Materials
5

Electricity

5.1

Current Electricity

5.1.1Basics of Electricity5.1.2Current-Voltage Characteristics5.1.3End of Topic Test - Basics of Electricity5.1.4Resistivity5.1.5Superconductivity5.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Superconductivity5.1.7End of Topic Test - Resistivity & Superconductors5.1.8Circuits5.1.9Power and Conservation5.1.10Potential Divider5.1.11Emf & Internal Resistance5.1.12End of Topic Test - Power & Potential5.1.13Exam-Style Question - Resistance5.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Constant Current5.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Potential Difference
6

Further Mechanics & Thermal Physics (A2 only)

6.1

Periodic Motion (A2 only)

6.1.1Circular Motion6.1.2Circular Motion 26.1.3End of Topic Test - Circular Motion6.1.4Simple Harmonic Motion6.1.5Simple Harmonic Systems6.1.6Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion6.1.7Resonance6.1.8End of Topic Test - Simple Harmonic Motion6.1.9A-A* (AO3/4) - Simple Harmonic Motion
6.2

Thermal Physics (A2 only)

6.2.1Thermal Energy Transfer6.2.2Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments6.2.3Ideal Gases6.2.4Ideal Gases 26.2.5Boyle's Law & Charles' Law6.2.6Molecular Kinetic Theory Model6.2.7Molecular Kinetic Theory Model 26.2.8End of Topic Test - Thermal Energy & Ideal Gases6.2.9Exam-Style Question - Ideal Gases6.2.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - Material & Mass6.2.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - No Energy
7

Fields & Their Consequences (A2 only)

7.1

Fields (A2 only)

7.1.1Fields
7.2

Gravitational Fields (A2 only)

7.2.1Newton's Law7.2.2Gravitational Field Strength7.2.3Gravitational Potential7.2.4Orbits of Planets & Satellites7.2.5Escape Velocity & Synchronous Orbits7.2.6End of Topic Test - Gravitational Fields
7.3

Electric Fields (A2 only)

7.3.1Coulomb's Law7.3.2Electric Field Strength7.3.3Electric Field Strength 27.3.4Electric Potential7.3.5End of Topic Test - Electric Fields7.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Electric and Gravitational Field
7.4

Capacitance (A2 only)

7.4.1Capacitance7.4.2Parallel Plate Capacitor7.4.3Energy Stored by a Capacitor7.4.4Capacitor Discharge7.4.5Capacitor Charge
7.5

Magnetic Fields (A2 only)

7.5.1Magnetic Flux Density7.5.2End of Topic Test - Capacitance & Flux Density7.5.3Moving Charges in a Magnetic Field7.5.4Magnetic Flux & Flux Linkage7.5.5Electromagnetic Induction7.5.6Electromagnetic Induction 27.5.7Alternating Currents7.5.8Operation of a Transformer7.5.9Magnetic Flux Density7.5.10End of Topic Test - Electromagnetic Induction
8

Nuclear Physics (A2 only)

8.1

Radioactivity (A2 only)

8.1.1Rutherford Scattering8.1.2Alpha & Beta Radiation8.1.3Gamma Radiation8.1.4Radioactive Decay8.1.5Half Life8.1.6End of Topic Test - Radioactivity8.1.7Nuclear Instability8.1.8Nuclear Radius8.1.9Mass & Energy8.1.10Binding Energy8.1.11Induced Fission8.1.12Safety Aspects of Nuclear Reactors8.1.13End of Topic Test - Nuclear Physics8.1.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Nuclear Fusion
9

Option: Astrophysics (A2 only)

9.1

Telescopes (A2 only)

9.1.1Astronomical Telescopes9.1.2Reflecting Telescopes9.1.3Single Dish Radio Telescopes9.1.4Large Diameter Telescopes
9.2

Classification of Stars (A2 only)

9.2.1Classification by Luminosity9.2.2Absolute Magnitude9.2.3Black Body Radiation9.2.4Stellar Spectral Classes9.2.5Hertzsprung-Russell Diagrams9.2.6Astronomical Objects
9.3

Cosmology (A2 only)

9.3.1Doppler Effect9.3.2Hubble's Law9.3.3Quasars9.3.4Detecting Exoplanets
10

Option: Medical Physics (A2 only)

10.1

Physics of the Eye (A2 only)

10.1.1Physics of Vision10.1.2Defects of Vision10.1.3Lenses10.1.4Correcting Defects of Vision
10.2

Physics of the Ear (A2 only)

10.2.1Structure of the Ear10.2.2Sensitivity of the Ear10.2.3Hearing Defects
10.3

Biological Measurement (A2 only)

10.3.1Electrocardiography (ECG)
10.4

Non-Ionising Imaging (A2 only)

10.4.1Ultrasound Imaging10.4.2Ultrasound Imaging 210.4.3Fibre Optics & Endoscopy10.4.4Magnetic Resonance Scanning
10.5

X-Ray Imaging (A2 only)

10.5.1Diagnostic X-Rays10.5.2X-Ray Image Processing10.5.3Absorption of X-Rays10.5.4CT Scanners
10.6

Radionuclide Imaging & Therapy (A2 only)

10.6.1Imaging Techniques10.6.2Half Life10.6.3Gamma Camera10.6.4High Energy X-Rays10.6.5Radioactive Implants10.6.6Imaging Comparisons
11

Option: Engineering Physics (A2 only)

11.1

Rotational Dynamics (A2 only)

11.1.1Moment of Inertia11.1.2Rotational Kinetic Energy11.1.3Rotational Motion11.1.4Torque & Angular Acceleration11.1.5Angular Momentum11.1.6Angular Work & Power
11.2

Thermodynamics & Engines (A2 only)

11.2.1First Law of Thermodynamics11.2.2Non-Flow Processes11.2.3p-V Diagrams11.2.4Engine Cycles11.2.5Second Law & Engines11.2.6Reversed Heat Engines
12

Option: Turning Points in Physics (A2 only)

12.1

Discovery of the Electron (A2 only)

12.1.1Cathode Rays12.1.2Thermionic Electron Emission12.1.3Electron Specific Charge12.1.4Millikan's Experiment
12.2

Wave-Particle Duality (A2 only)

12.2.1Newton's & Huygen's Theories of Light12.2.2Electromagnetic Waves12.2.3Photoelectricity12.2.4Wave-Particle Duality12.2.5Electron Microscopes
12.3

Special Relativity (A2 only)

12.3.1Michelson-Morley Experiment12.3.2Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity12.3.3Time Dilation12.3.4Length Contraction12.3.5Mass & Energy

Practice questions on Astronomical Telescopes

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  1. 1
    Why can we see distant objects more clearly with a telescope?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    How is the size of an object measured?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What is the correct equation for the magnification of a telescope?Multiple choice
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A-A* (AO3/4) - Nuclear Fusion

Reflecting Telescopes