How Telescopes Work

Question 1

Sam points his telescope at a distant planet and can now see tiny dark spots on its surface that his eyes alone could not see. Which statement best explains how the telescope lets Sam notice those spots?

Accepted Answer

The telescope gathers more light and creates a larger image of the planet, making the tiny spots big enough for his eyes to detect.

Answer

The telescope bends the light so the planet is actually closer to Sam, letting his eyes see the spots.

Answer

The telescope removes the blur caused by Earth’s atmosphere, so the picture becomes perfectly clear.

Answer

The telescope makes the planet glow brighter, so the spots become visible.

Question 2

Lina looks at a distant moon crater through her telescope and can see tiny ridges that her eyes alone cannot see. Which statement best explains how the telescope helps her see those ridges?

Accepted Answer

The telescope gathers more light and bends it to make a larger image on Lina’s eye, so the small details become visible.

Answer

The telescope pulls the moon closer to Lina, so it looks bigger.

Answer

The telescope only makes the moon brighter, but keeps the same size, letting Lina see the ridges.

Answer

The telescope removes the moon’s atmosphere, allowing clearer light to reach Lina’s eyes.

Question 3

Why does a space telescope like Hubble take clearer pictures of stars than a telescope on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Because it is above Earth’s atmosphere, which can make images look blurry.

Answer

Because it is much larger than ground telescopes.

Answer

Because being in space makes the telescope lighter.

Answer

Because it can get close enough to touch the stars.

Try three questions

Sam points his telescope at a distant planet and can now see tiny dark spots on its surface that his eyes alone could not see. Which statement best explains how the telescope lets Sam notice those spots?

Lina looks at a distant moon crater through her telescope and can see tiny ridges that her eyes alone cannot see. Which statement best explains how the telescope helps her see those ridges?

Why does a space telescope like Hubble take clearer pictures of stars than a telescope on Earth?

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