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Resolving Power - Manual

This document describes an experiment to determine the resolving power of a telescope using Rayleigh's criterion. The experiment involves using a telescope to view two closely spaced slits illuminated by a sodium lamp. The width of the slits is varied until the two slits are just resolved. This width, along with the diameter of the telescope objective and distance between the slits and telescope, are used to calculate the resolving power and verify Rayleigh's criterion that the smallest resolvable angle is proportional to the wavelength of light divided by the diameter of the aperture. The results are analyzed to determine the average resolving power of the telescope and percent error compared to theoretical values.

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Deepak Gupta
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203 views3 pages

Resolving Power - Manual

This document describes an experiment to determine the resolving power of a telescope using Rayleigh's criterion. The experiment involves using a telescope to view two closely spaced slits illuminated by a sodium lamp. The width of the slits is varied until the two slits are just resolved. This width, along with the diameter of the telescope objective and distance between the slits and telescope, are used to calculate the resolving power and verify Rayleigh's criterion that the smallest resolvable angle is proportional to the wavelength of light divided by the diameter of the aperture. The results are analyzed to determine the average resolving power of the telescope and percent error compared to theoretical values.

Uploaded by

Deepak Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Resolving Power of Telescope

Objective: To determine the resolving power of telescope and to verify the Rayleigh’s
criterion of resolution.

Apparatus Required: Telescope, micrometer eyepiece, sodium lamp, and Power supply,
a plate containing two fine parallel lines acting as two slits, and a measuring tape.

Theory and Formula Used: A telescope is an instrument to see far away objects. The
resolving power gives an idea how better an instrument can see two closely lying objects as
two separate ones. Resolving power is defined as the reciprocal of the sine of the angle
subtended at the objective of the telescope by the two point objects which can just be
distinguished as separate. This image of a point source is not a point but is a diffraction
pattern consisting of a central bright disc surrounded by alternate dark and bright rings. If
there are two near-lying point sources, the diffraction patterns of the two may overlap and
they may not be distinguished.
According to Rayleigh, the two nearby images are said to be resolved if the position of
central maximum of one coincides with first minimum of the other and vice versa (figure-1).

Resolved Just Resolved Not Resolved

Figure-1: Rayleigh Criterion

Using Rayleigh criterion d = /a , where d is the smallest angle that can be resolved, ‘a’ is
the opening of the rectangular aperture and  is the wavelength of light used. For a circular
aperture the relation is modified by a factor of 1.22 i.e., d = 1.22/a.
Thus, the resolving power becomes a/1.22, where a is the diameter of the circular aperture.
 b
For verification of Rayleigh’s criterion =
a D
Where b= distance between the two slits
D= distance between the source and objective of telescope

ab
This gives  =
D
dD
Thus the Resolving power of the telescope is = R.P. = rad-1
1.22ab

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d= Diameter of objective of telescope
a= Width of slit mounted on the objective of telescope in the position of just resolution

Procedure:
1. Connect sodium light source with Power Supply and switch on the Power Supply.
2. Insert the slit with separation between the strips (width of strip is 2 mm) into the light
source.
3. Place the telescope in front of the light source at a distance 2-4 meters. Take care that the
axis of telescope is horizontal and height of telescope is in line with the strips.
4. Note the least count of the micrometer screw provided with the rectangular slit.
5. Now open the rectangular slit completely and focus the telescope on the strips so that the
distinct image of strips is seen in the field of view.
6. Now gradually decreases the width of slit by the micrometer screw till the separate
visibility of the strips just disappear i.e. two strips just appear as a single strip.
7. Note the micrometer screw reading at this position.
8. Now again rotate the micrometer screw in the same direction until there is complete
darkness in the field of view.
9. Again note the reading of micrometer screw.
10. Take the difference of two readings of the micrometer screw, this gives the width of
the rectangular slit a in the position of just resolution of the two strips.
11. Repeat the same experiment for the different position of telescope.
12. Find the diameter d of objective lens with the help of vernier calipers of the telescope.
13. Measure the distance D from the slit of light source to the objective of telescope, using
measuring tape.
14. Record all the readings in the observation table given below.

Observations:
1. Determination of width ‘a’ of slit in just resolution position:
Pitch of the micrometer screw = 0.5 mm
Total number of divisions on the circular scale = 50
Least count of micrometer screw = Pitch / number of divisions on the circular scale=0.01 mm

S.No. Distance of Reading of micrometer eyepiece Width of


telescope slit
from slits a=(x-y)
Just resolved position Completely dark position
mm
M.S.R. C.S.R. T.R. (x) M.S.R. C.S.R. T.R. (y)
1 2.0 meter
2 2.5 meter
3 3.0 meter
4 3.5 meter

2. Determination of the separation ‘b’ between the slits/strips:


Least count of vernier calipers =0.1 mm

Total reading between the two strips ‘b’= M.S.R. + V.S.R. =2.0+0.0=1.0 mm

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3. Determination of the diameter ‘d’ of objective of telescope:

S.No. Diameter d of objective Mean ‘d’ mm

M.S.R. (mm) V.S.R. (mm) T.R. (mm)


1
20.2
2

4. Wavelength of Sodium light source λ =5893Ao=5893x10-8 cm =5893x10-7 mm

Calculations:
Resolving power of telescope (R.P.) = dD/1.22xaxb = ------------rad-1
Theoretical value of resolving power = d/1.22x λ = 2.80x104 rad-1
• Verification of Rayleigh’s criterion:

S.No. D d/D /a D/b a/


1
2
3
4
5

Result: The average value of Resolving Power of Telescope =------------------ rad-1


% of Error: [(Standard value-Experimental value) x100]/Standard value

Precautions and sources of errors:


1. The line etched on the plate should be sharp, narrow and closely placed.
2. The plate should be vertical.
3. The axis of telescope should be horizontal and normal to the plane of the plate.
4. While measuring the distance between two lines with avoid back lash error.
5. The reading should be noted when two slits are just resolved.

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