DP Physics Questionbank
C.2 – Imaging instrumentation
Description
Nature of science:
Improved instrumentation: The optical telescope has been in use for over 500 years. It has enabled humankind to observe and hypothesize about the universe. More recently, radio telescopes have been developed to investigate the electromagnetic radiation beyond the visible region. Telescopes (both visual and radio) are now placed away from the Earth’s surface to avoid the image degradation caused by the atmosphere, while corrective optics are used to enhance images collected at the Earth’s surface. Many satellites have been launched with sensors capable of recording vast amounts of data in the infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray and other electromagnetic spectrum ranges. (1.8)
Understandings:
- Optical compound microscopes
- Simple optical astronomical refracting telescopes
- Simple optical astronomical reflecting telescopes
- Single-dish radio telescopes
- Radio interferometry telescopes
- Satellite-borne telescopes
Applications and skills:
- Constructing and interpreting ray diagrams of optical compound microscopes at normal adjustment
- Solving problems involving the angular magnification and resolution of optical compound microscopes
- Investigating the optical compound microscope experimentally
- Constructing or completing ray diagrams of simple optical astronomical refracting telescopes at normal adjustment
- Solving problems involving the angular magnification of simple optical astronomical telescopes
- Investigating the performance of a simple optical astronomical refracting telescope experimentally
- Describing the comparative performance of Earth-based telescopes and satellite-borne telescopes
Guidance:
- Simple optical astronomical reflecting telescope design is limited to Newtonian and Cassegrain mounting
- Radio interferometer telescopes should be approximated as a dish of diameter equal to the maximum separation of the antennae
- Radio interferometry telescopes refer to array telescopes
Data booklet reference:
International-mindedness:
- The use of the radio interferometry telescope crosses cultures with collaboration between scientists from many countries to produce arrays of interferometers that span the continents
Theory of knowledge:
- However advanced the technology, microscopes and telescopes always involve sense perception. Can technology be used effectively to extend or correct our senses?
Utilization:
- Cell observation (see Biology sub-topic 1.2)
- The information that the astronomical telescopes gather continues to allow us to improve our understanding of the universe
- Resolution is covered for other sources in Physics sub-topic 9.4
Aims:
- Aim 3: images from microscopes and telescopes both in the school laboratory and obtained via the internet enable students to apply their knowledge of these techniques
- Aim 5: research astronomy and astrophysics is an example of the need for collaboration between teams of scientists from different countries and continents
- Aim 6: local amateur or professional astronomical organizations can be useful for arranging demonstrations of the night sky
Directly related questions
- 18M.3.SL.TZ2.9c: Distinguish between this mounting and the Newtonian mounting.
- 18M.3.SL.TZ2.9b: This arrangement using the secondary mirror is said to increase the focal length of the primary...
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.13c: It is proposed to build an array of radio telescopes such that the maximum distance between them...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.9c: State two advantages of the use of satellite-borne telescopes compared to Earth-based telescopes.
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.9b: The telescope is used to form an image of the Moon. The angle subtended by the image of the Moon...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.9a: Determine the focal length of each lens.
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.7c: By reference to chromatic aberration, explain one advantage of a reflecting telescope over a...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.7b.ii: The angular diameter of the Moon at the naked eye is 7.8 × 10–3 rad. Calculate the angular...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.7b.i: Explain why, for the final image to form at infinity, the distance between the lenses must be...
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.13d: The diagram shows a schematic view of a compound microscope with the focal points fo of the...
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.13e: Image 1 shows details on the petals of a flower under visible light. Image 2 shows the same...
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.13c: There are optical telescopes which have diameters about 10 m. There are radio telescopes with...
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.13b: A student has four converging lenses of focal length 5, 20, 150 and 500 mm. Determine the maximum...
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.13a: Compare the focal lengths needed for the objective lens in an refracting telescope and in a...
- 16M.3.SL.TZ0.10c: A student decides to reverse the positions of the same lenses without changing the separation to...
- 16M.3.SL.TZ0.10a: Calculate the magnification of this telescope.
- 15M.3.SL.TZ2.20b: Argus uses an astronomical telescope to observe a telecommunications tower. The height of the...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ1.18a: (i) On the diagram above, construct a ray diagram to locate the position of the image formed by...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ1.18b: The compound microscope in (a) is in normal adjustment so that the final image is formed at the...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ2.18c: (i) State the separation of the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. (ii) Determine the...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ2.18b: (i) Define the term near point. (ii) Outline the advantage of having the image...
- 12M.3.SL.TZ2.18b: The diameter of the Moon subtends an angle of 8.7×10–3 rad at the unaided eye. (i) Determine the...
- 12M.3.SL.TZ2.18a: On the diagram above, (i) label with the letter F the two focal points of the eyepiece...
- 13N.3.SL.TZ0.15a: Construct rays on the diagram to show how the final image is formed.
- 13N.3.SL.TZ0.15b: The intermediate image forms 14.8 cm from the objective lens. The distance between the lenses is...
- 10N.3.SL.TZ0.G2b: In a particular astronomical telescope, the eyepiece lens has a power of 40 dioptres and the...
- 10N.3.SL.TZ0.G2a: (i) label, with the symbol \({F_{\text{E}}}\), the position of the other focal point of the...
- 10N.3.SL.TZ0.G2c: In an astronomical telescope the objective is often made up from a diverging and a converging...
