Is Magnification Consistent?

• Autores: Christopher M. Graney
• Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 48, Nº. 7, 2010, págs. 475-477
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Is the phenomenon of magnification by a converging lens inconsistent and therefore unreliable? Can a lens magnify one part of an object but not another? Physics teachers and even students familiar with basic optics1would answer �no,� yet many answer �yes.� Numerous telescope users believe that magnification is not a reliable phenomenon in that it does not work for stars. This belief was central to the arguments of one of sciences most prominent modern critics�a great story of how misunderstanding basic optics helped to yield bad ideas about science. So magnification is a great topic! It is accessible to students. It gives students insight into the workings of a familiar device such as a telescope that even frequent telescope users often lack. And it has a fascinating side story about how misunderstanding basic science led to interesting consequences.