11.4+Resolution

IB Physics > Wave Phenomena =RESOLUTION= media type="custom" key="13527054" TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING WITH THE FOLLOWING IB-STYLE QUESTIONS [|Resolution questions with solutions.doc] [|ASTRONOMY-CAST ABOUT RESOLUTION] - play it at the link and read the show-notes [|RESOLUTION BLOG POST] - from Starts with a Bang Applet which illustrates Rayleigh criterion for resolution: RAYLEIGH
 * 1 Measure || 2 Mech || 3 Therm || 4 Waves || 5 Electric || 6 Fields || 7 Atomic || 8 EPCC || 9 MIF || 10 Therm AHL || 11 Wave Phen || 12 EMI || 13 QNP || 14 Digital || OPT || PRAC || REVISE ||
 * STANDING WAVE || DOPPLER || DIFFRACTION || RESOLUTION || POLARISATION ||

Sketch the variation with angle of diffraction of the relative intensity of light emitted by two point sources that has been diffracted at a single slit. Students should sketch the variation where the diffraction patterns are well resolved, just resolved and not resolved. For two sources which are just resolved, the first minimum of one coincides with the maximum of the other. If they are closer, they cannot be seen as separate sources.



State the Rayleigh criterion for images of two sources to be just resolved.

For two sources of wavelength λ viewed through an aperture of diameter b, the angle which they subtend when they can just be resolved is θ = 1.22 λ /b

Describe the significance of resolution in the development of devices such as CDs and DVDs, the electron microscope and radio telescopes.

Students should know that the criterion for a circular aperture is θ = 1.22 λ /b.

Solve problems involving resolution.

Problems could involve the human eye and optical instruments