A small telescope has an objective lens of focal length 144cm and an eyepiece of focal length 6.0cm. What is the magnifying power of the telescope? What is the separation between the objective and the eyepiece?

To find the magnifying power of a telescope and the separation between the objective lens and the eyepiece, we can use some fundamental formulas from optics. Let's break this down step by step.

Calculating Magnifying Power

The magnifying power (M) of a telescope can be calculated using the formula:

M = F_o / F_e

Where:

• F_o is the focal length of the objective lens.
• F_e is the focal length of the eyepiece.

In this case, we have:

• F_o = 144 cm
• F_e = 6.0 cm

Now, substituting these values into the magnifying power formula:

M = 144 cm / 6.0 cm = 24

This means the telescope magnifies the image 24 times.

Finding the Separation Between Lenses

The separation (d) between the objective lens and the eyepiece in a simple telescope can be calculated using the formula:

d = F_o + F_e

Using the focal lengths we have:

• d = 144 cm + 6.0 cm

Calculating this gives:

d = 150 cm

Thus, the separation between the objective and the eyepiece is 150 cm.

Summary of Results

To summarize:

• The magnifying power of the telescope is 24.
• The separation between the objective and the eyepiece is 150 cm.

These calculations illustrate how the design of a telescope allows us to observe distant objects with greater clarity and detail. If you have any further questions about telescopes or optics, feel free to ask!