TeXes Science Practice Test

What technique uses multiple telescopes to produce a single enhanced image?

1. Refraction

2. Interferometry

3. Diffraction

4. Spectroscopy

The correct answer is: Interferometry

Interferometry is the technique that utilizes multiple telescopes to create a single enhanced image. This methodology harnesses the principle of interference, where the light waves collected by different telescopes are combined. By adjusting the timing of the light waves captured from the same astronomical object, the technique can amplify certain aspects of the image, such as resolution or clarity, much beyond what a single telescope could achieve alone. In essence, the interference of light waves allows astronomers to discern finer details and features of celestial objects, effectively acting as a larger telescope. This collective approach enhances our understanding of the universe by enabling the observation of distant and faint astronomical phenomena with improved accuracy. By contrast, the other techniques listed do not involve the simultaneous combination of signals from multiple telescopes. Refraction deals with the bending of light as it passes through different media, diffraction pertains to the spreading of light waves around obstacles or through openings, and spectroscopy refers to the study of the interaction between light and matter to identify materials based on their spectral lines. These methods serve their own particular purposes in the field of science but do not contribute to the creation of enhanced images through the combination of multiple telescopic observations.