This question is incomplete, the complete question is;
In June 1985, a laser beam was sent out from the Air Force Optical Station on Maui and reflected back from the shuttle Discovery as it passed by 354 km overhead. The diameter of the central maximum of the beam at the shuttle position was said to be 9.1 m, and the beam wavelength was 500 nm.
What is the effective diameter of the circular laser aperture at the Maui ground station
Answer:
the effective diameter of the circular laser aperture at the Maui ground station is 4.747 cm
Explanation:
Given the data in the question;
Separation between observer and point L = 354 km = 354000 m
Linear separation D = 9.1 m
wavelength λ = 500 nm = 500 × 10⁻⁹ m
Now, for small angles;
θ = D / L
θ = 9.1 m / 354000 m
θ = 2.57 × 10⁻⁵ rad
For a circular aperture;
sinθ = ( 1.22 × λ ) / d
for small angles;
θ = ( 1.22 × λ ) / d
so
θ = 2 × θ
θ = 2 × [( 1.22 × λ ) / d]
we substitute
2.57 × 10⁻⁵ = 2 × [( 1.22 × 500 × 10⁻⁹ ) / d]
2.57 × 10⁻⁵ = 0.00000122 / d
d = 0.00000122 / 2.57 × 10⁻⁵
d = 0.04747 m
d = ( 0.04747 × 100 )m
d = 4.747 cm
Therefore, the effective diameter of the circular laser aperture at the Maui ground station is 4.747 cm
