A hang-glider is flying at an altitude of h = 133 m. Green light of wavelength 5

Question

A hang-glider is flying at an altitude of h  =  133 m. Green light of wavelength 550 nm enters the pilot's eye through the pupil which has a diameter of 2.40 mm and an index of refraction of 1.36. What is the minimal distance of two point objects on the ground that can be resolved (distinguished) by the pilot's eye?

An eagle is soaring at the same altitude. Its eye has the same refractive index as the pilot's, but its pupil diameter is 6.05 mm. What is the minimal distance of two point objects on the ground that can be resolved by the eagle's eye?

Explanation / Answer

x=separation distance

sin theta = 1.22*lamda/D, Rayleigh Criterion

tan theta = x/h, based on geometry of situation

for small theta, i.e distance object tan theta = sin theta

1.22*lamda/D = = x/h

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