What is the minimum diameter mirror on a telescope that would allow you to see details as small as 5.20 km on the moon some 384000 km away? Assume an average wavelength of 550 nm for the light received.

cm

4.96cm

Explanation:

distance = 5.20km = 5.2 * 10³ m

Wavelength, λ = 550nm = 5.50 * 10⁻⁷m

distance of moon, L = 384000 km = 3.84 * 10⁸m

formula for resolving power of two objects

d = (1.22 * λ * L) / D

D = (1.22 * λ * L) / d

= (1.22 * 5.50 * 10⁻⁷ * 3.84 * 10⁸) / 5.2 * 10³

D = 4.96cm