resolving power

American  

noun

1. Optics. the ability of an optical device to produce separate images of close objects.

2. Photography. the degree to which a lens or photographic emulsion is able to define the details of an image.

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resolving power British  

noun

1. Also called: resolution.  physics

   1. the ability of a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument to produce separate images of closely placed objects

   2. the ability of a spectrometer to separate two adjacent peaks in a spectrum

2. photog the ability of an emulsion to show up fine detail in an image

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Etymology

Origin of resolving power

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

"This is unprecedented and entirely due to Webb's higher resolving power!"

From Science Daily • Nov. 8, 2023

A telescope’s resolving power depends on the width of its aperture.

From Economist • Jan. 7, 2016

The resolving power of a lens is defined as that distance x .

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The LBT’s resolving power is boosted even further when it is operated as a giant set of binoculars.

From Nature • Jul. 10, 2013

The resolving power of a telescope with circular or rectangular aperture is easily investigated experimentally.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various