Compared to optical telescopes, radio telescopes are built large because
A) radio waves are absorbed by the atmosphere.
B) they're less expensive to make than optical telescopes.
C) radio waves have very long wavelengths.
D) atmospheric turbulence is more of a problem.
E) radio sources are harder to find.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radio waves have very long wavelengths, which means that radio telescopes need to be large in order to achieve a resolution comparable to that of optical telescopes. The size helps in collecting the weak radio signals from space and improving the detail and quality of the observations.

Compared to Optical Telescopes, Radio Telescopes Are Built Large Because