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For an astronomical telescope, the focal length of the objective lens is f₀ and that of the eye-piece lens is fₑ. Then the tube length L of the telescope is ________.

Asked in GUJCET 2017 · Telescopes

Answer: (2) L≥ f₀+fₑ

Step-by-step solution

Given: objective focal length f₀, eye-piece focal length fₑ, normal adjustment.

Idea: the objective forms a real image of the distant object at its own focal plane, and the eye-piece then views that image as a magnifier.

For the final image to be at infinity, the intermediate image must sit exactly at the eye-piece's first focal point.

So the two lenses are f₀ plus fₑ apart: L=f₀+fₑ.

The tube can never be shorter than that, which is what L≥ f₀+fₑ records.

Why the other options are wrong

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