Homework 04

Please answer at least 4 of the following 5 questions correctly for full credit:

Question 1

Please list the two main reasons why it is desirable to have a large aperture on a telescope.

Question 2

What are the main advantages of reflectors over refractors?

Question 3

For a plain 1m aperture telescope on the ground: What will be the dominating effect that limits the resolution (resolving power) of the telescope for blue light?

Question 4

What is the longest baseline you could possibly get for interferometry without leaving the Earth?

Question 5 (the quantitative one...)

Looking at the atmospheric absorption portion of the figure on the inside of your text book's front cover: If you want two IR telescopes, one to look near a wavelength of 6 micrometers and one to look near a wavelength of 10 micrometers: Which one would you put into space? Please be aware that the wavelength scale in the books figure is logarithmic; make sure you understand where 6 micrometers is on that scale.
(Book: I am referring to the 6th edition; Desiree in JFB 201 has a copy for you to look at if you do not have one yourself. You will not be able to take it out of her office though. I also have a copy in my office.)
Please submit your answer as plain test in the main message body of an e-mail to kai-1060-hw@physics.utah.edu before midnight (MST) on Feb. 14, 2008. Plain text in the main message body of your e-mail means no attachments!!!
Last modified: Fri Feb 8 13:56:35 MST 2008