Question #2: Looking at the magnification equation above, does a shorter focal length eyepiece increase or decrease the magnification (over a longer focal length eyepiece)? Explain briefly.

Shorter focal length eyepiece increases magnification and longer focal length eyepiece decreases magnification

Explanation:

Magnification equation is given by

M =

where

is the focal length of the objective

is the focal length of the eyepiece

Assuming that the focal length of objective is constant, we can derive relation between Magnification power and focal length of eyepiece as

M α

Above derivation shows that the magnification is inversely proportional to the focal length of eyepiece

Hence shorter focal length eyepiece increases magnification and longer focal length eyepiece decreases magnification

true

explanation: