# What is the new distance for resolution of the images? [closed]

The taillights of an automobile are $1.25\:\rm{m}$ apart. Assume the pupil of a person's eye has a diameter of $5\:\rm{mm}$ and the light has an average wavelength of $604\:\rm{mm}$. At night, on a long straight highway, how far away can the two taillight be resolved? Suppose you squint your eyes, forming a slit in which the limiting angle changes from $\theta=1.22 \lambda/D$ to $\theta=\lambda/D$. What is the new distance for resolution of the images?

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Don't you have to worry about how good the optics in the eye are? The eye performs a lot better than a pinhole camera with a pupil-sized hole, and I presume a lot worse than the best possible telescope with the same size aperture. I don't think there's enough information there to answer the question. – Peter Shor Apr 16 '12 at 14:49
The eye is not going to do a very good job at detecting light with a wavelength of 604mm. – user2963 Apr 16 '12 at 15:07
I amend the wavelength of 604mm to 604nm – Yojito Apr 16 '12 at 15:09
Hooray, we went metric here! – Pygmalion Apr 16 '12 at 15:17
Welcome to Physics! This is a site for conceptual questions about physics, not general homework help. If you can edit your question to ask about the specific physics concept that is giving you trouble, I'll be happy to reopen it. See our FAQ and homework policy for more information. – David Zaslavsky Apr 16 '12 at 17:52

## closed as too localized by David Zaslavsky♦Apr 16 '12 at 17:52

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