#  Resolution 

 



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### Adjustable Single Slit

\[M/L | t++ | —\]  
Diffraction pattern changes with slit aperture.

### Airy's Disc

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Circular aperture effect.

\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/airys-disc)\]

### Rayleigh's Criterion

\[L | t+ | ★★\]  
Variable width slit shows dependance of aperture size on resolution of two closely aligned lasers.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/rayleighs-criterion)\]

### Telescope Resolution

\[L | t++ | ★★★★\]  
An adjustable aperture in front of a telescope is closed down to show the Rayleigh limit.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/telescope-resolution)\]

### Binary Star

\[M | t+ | ★★\]  
Two small closely mounted bulbs simulate resolution problems.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/binary-star)\]

### Microscope Resolution

\[M | t+ | ★★★\]  
1μm diameter latex spheres observed under a ×1000 magnification is limited by resolution.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/microscope-resolution)\]

### Fresnel Diffraction

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The optical limits of a microscope are demonstrated as one attempts to resolve 1 μm diameter spheres.

### Contact Us

**Mailing Address**: Lecture Demonstration Services, Science Center, Rm B-08A, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138  
**Campus Location**: Science Center B-08A | **Tel**: (617) 495-5824 | **Email**: scidemos-at-fas.harvard.edu