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A tiny laser beam is directed from the Earth to the Moon. If the beam is to have a diameter of 2.5 m at the Moon, how small must the divergence angle be? The distance to the Moon from the Earth is 3.8 x 10^8 m.

Question

A tiny laser beam is directed from the Earth to the Moon. If the beam is to have a diameter of 2.5 m at the Moon, how small must the divergence angle be? The distance to the Moon from the Earth is 3.8 x 10^8 m.

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Solution

The divergence angle of a laser beam can be calculated using the formula:

θ = d / D

where:

  • θ is the divergence angle,
  • d is the diameter of the beam at the target (the Moon in this case),
  • D is the distance to the target.

Given that d = 2.5 m and D = 3.8 x 10^8 m, we can substitute these values into the formula to find θ:

θ = 2.5 m / 3.8 x 10^8 m = 6.58 x 10^-9 radians

Therefore, the divergence angle of the laser beam must be 6.58 x 10^-9 radians for it to have a diameter of 2.5 m at the Moon.

This problem has been solved

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