Exam-style question
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What is diffraction in the context of telescopes?.
- A.The bending of light waves around obstacles
- B.The scattering of light in the atmosphere
- C.The reflection of light off mirrors
- D.The absorption of light by the telescope's material
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The bending of light waves around obstacles
Explanation
Why this works
Diffraction occurs when light waves encounter an obstacle or aperture, causing them to bend and spread. This phenomenon limits the resolving power of telescopes, as it can blur the images of closely spaced objects.
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