A spy satellite orbiting 600 km above Earth is supposedly capable of counting individual people in a crowd in visual- wavelength images. Assume that the middle of the visual wavelength band is at 550 nm . Assume an average person has a size of 0.8 m as seen from above. Estimate the minimum telescope diameter that the satellite must carry.

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology Update (No access codes included)
9th Edition
ISBN:9781305116399
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Chapter38: Diffraction Patterns And Polarization
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 38.15P: The angular resolution of a radio telescope is to be 0.100 when the incident waves have a wavelength...
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A spy satellite orbiting 600 km above Earth is supposedly capable of counting individual people in a crowd in visual- wavelength images. Assume that the middle of the visual wavelength band is at 550 nm . Assume an average person has a size of 0.8 m as seen from above. Estimate the minimum telescope diameter that the satellite must carry.

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in the question: A spy satellite orbiting 600 km above Earth is supposedly capable of counting individual people in a crowd in visual- wavelength images. Assume that the middle of the visual wavelength band is at 550 nm . Assume an average person has a size of 0.8 m as seen from above. Estimate the minimum telescope diameter that the satellite must carry.

The previous expert used  1,22 instead of 2.06 to convert to angular distance. I thinkn he has to use the small-angular formula.

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