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In telescopes that use them, mirrors are the principal mechanism of magnification. The mirror is what gathers the light, and the more light gathered the better. The eyepiece is not the principal magnifier; the eyepiece serves to focus the gathered light so that it can make a clear image on the retina.

The larger the mirror, the more light is gathered, and the better the telescope is.

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What are the practical uses for concave and convex mirrors?

Concave mirrors are used in reflecting telescopes, makeup mirrors, and headlights to focus light rays. Convex mirrors are used in security mirrors, wide-angle rearview mirrors in cars, and magnifying glasses to provide a wider field of view or to reduce image distortion.


What devices have mirrors in them?

Some devices that have mirrors in them include smartphones (front-facing camera), digital cameras, telescopes, microscopes, and selfie sticks. Mirrors are used in these devices for reflection and imaging purposes.


How long have humans used telescopes?

We know the telescope was invented by 1608 and soon many people, for example Galileo, were using telescopes. There is some evidence of earlier telescopes, but we aren't certain about that. So, humans have been using telescopes for about 400 years.


What function do mirrors serve in reflecting telescopes?

Mirrors in reflecting telescopes are used to gather and focus light. The primary mirror collects incoming light, and then reflects it to a secondary mirror, which in turn directs the light to the eyepiece or imaging instrument. This design allows for larger apertures and better light-gathering capabilities than refracting telescopes.


How are telescopes used in astronomy?

Telescopes are used to see things that are far away from earth. Using telescopes we can see things that are millions of miles away. Most of the telescopes are on Earth but some of them are in space such as the Hubble Space Telescope.


What design variants might one see in an optical telescope?

Some design variants you may see in an optical telescope include telescopes that fold or divert the optical path with mirrors and telescopes that use special lenses to enhance the images.


Can mirrors cameras telescope and eye glasses refract light?

Mirrors don't refract, they reflect. All lenses, on the other hand, refract (bend) the light. All cameras have lenses, to focus the image; same for eyeglasses. Some telescopes have lenses, but others are collections of mirrors. Note that some few optical elements are lenses and mirrors - like prescription sunglasses with mirror coating.


What are some reasons you keep building larger and larger telescopes?

because the people of the world suck their dicks very hard


Why are curved mirrors used in some telescopes?

Plane mirrors don't form real images. Concave mirrors and convex lenses do. Without a real image, you have nothing to expose film to, nothing to project onto a screen, nothing to capture on a CCD or vidicon, and nothing to look at with an eyepiece.


What type of telescope gathers radiation with a metal dish?

This best answer describes a reflecting telescope. The maximum size for a refractor on Earth is about 40 inches due to gravitational sag. Palomar's primary mirror is some 16 feet in diameter, and the Keck telescopes use several large mirrors that are computer-controlled and act as a single disk twice the size of Palomar.


What are the uses of plane convex and concave mirrors?

Some convex mirrors are used for magnification... such as those you might see at a make-up counter in the store. Concave mirrors are used in stores. They're put up in the corners so that a large area can be seen that would otherwise be out of view. The also have very specified uses for bouncing lazers and those sorts of applications.


What are some practical applications of concave mirrors?

Concave mirrors are used in reflecting telescopes to gather and focus light for better image resolution. They are also used in headlamps to project a strong, focused beam of light for better visibility while driving at night. In dental clinics, concave mirrors are used to view hard-to-reach areas inside the mouth during procedures.