Landing on an Aircraft Carrier The Long-Range Lineup | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Physics with MasteringPhysics

Chapter 27 Problem 97GP

Question

Landing on an Aircraft Carrier The Long-Range Lineup System (LRLS) used to ensure safe landings on aircraft carriers consists of a series of Fresnel lenses of different colors. Each lens focuses light in a different, specific direction, and hence which light a pilot sees on approach determines whether the plane is above, below, or on the proper landing path. The basic idea behind a Fresnel lens, which has the same optical properties as an ordinary lens, is shown in Figure , along with a photo of the LRLS. Suppose an object (a lightbulb in this case) is \(17.1 \mathrm{~cm}\) behind a Fresnel lens, and that the corresponding image is a distance \(d_{i}=d\) in front of the lens. If the object is moved to a distance of \(12.0 \mathrm{~cm}\) behind the lens, the image distance doubles to \(d_{i}=2 d\). In the LRLS, it is desired to have the image of the lightbulb at infinity. What object distance will give this result for this particular lens?

(a) A lens causes light to refract at its surface; therefore, the interior glass can be removed without changing its optical properties. This produces a Fresnel lens, which is much lighter than the original lens.

(b) If an airplane is on the correct approach path, the pilot will see an amber light, called the “meatball,” in line with the row of blue lights.

Solution

Step 1 of 5

When a light bulb in the Long-Range Lineup System is  behind a Fresnel lens, its image is a distance  in front of the lens. When the light bulb is moved to  behind the same lens, the image moves to a distance of .

Initially, the object distance is,

The image distance is,

The thin lens equation is,

Rearranging the equation, the image distance is,

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Title Physics with MasteringPhysics 4 
Author James S. Walker
ISBN 9780321541635

Landing on an Aircraft Carrier The Long-Range Lineup

Chapter 27 textbook questions

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