Question

An astronaut circles the earth in a satellite at an altitude of 150 km. If the diameter of his pupils is 2.0 mm and the average wavelength of the light reaching his eyes is 550 nm, is it conceivable that he can distinguish sports stadiums on the earth's surface? Private houses? Cars?

Answer 1

Answer:

d = 49.5 m

hence we can say it is conceivable that he can distinguish sports stadiums on earth's surface but in Private houses? Cars? it can not becayuse they are are very small

Explanation:

Given data

altitude = 150 km

diameter = 2.0 mm

wavelength = 550 nm

to find out

is it conceivable that he can distinguish sports stadiums

solution

we will apply here formula that is

∅ = 1.2 λ  / D

put here λ  = 550 ×$10^{-9}$ m and D = 2 ×$10^{-3}$ m

∅ = (1.2 ) 550 ×$10^{-9}$  / 2 ×$10^{-3}$

∅ = 3.30 ×$10^{-4}$   rad

so

d = 150  × $10^{3}$ × 3.30 ×$10^{-4}$  

d = 49.5 m

hence we can say it is conceivable that he can distinguish sports stadiums on earth's surface but in Private houses? Cars? it can not becayuse they are are very small