Identify the pros and cons of using mirrors versus lenses in each of the following applications:

a. a large, ground-based, astronomical telescope
b. a small "spy" scope
c. a terrestrial telescope designed only to read license plates

Explanation:

A lens – An object, usually made of glass, that focuses or defocuses the light that passes through it.

A mirror – A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it.

Telescope – monocular optical instrument possessing magnification for observing distant objects, especially in astronomy.

Refracting telescopes – are telescopes that use lenses are and those that use concave parabolic mirrors are called reflecting telescopes. 

Pros of mirror telescope

• They are easier to construct and not expensive to produce

• made larger and more durable (more light can be directed to the eyepiece which is good)

• cannot have any occlusions 

• mirrors have less spherical aberration

• reflect all wavelengths of light equally

• more magnification power for cheaper version

Cons of mirror prisms

• it must also be realigned after cleaning, which can be expensive - maintenance disadvantage

• Reflective Surface Disadvantage

Pros of Lenses telescope

• Easy to use

• More reliable

Cons of Lens telescope

• are not easy to construct and expensive to produce

• May have occlusions

• spherical aberration are more

• Doesnt reflect wavelengths of light equally they bend light differently

• Less magnification power for cheaper version

• heavy

• Longer body

Pro of Mirror periscope

• it helps us to see further than our view that is what is above us or sometimes even below us.

•Light weight

disadvantage:

• it may not work properly and show distorted images due to fog. ; Some have a narrow field of view ; May be detected by others Ungainly (long, takes up space),

•Not as rugged as prisms.

• Maintenance of reflection surface

Pros of Prism periscopes

• incorporated lenses for magnification and function as telescopes.

• They typically employ prisms and total internal reflection instead of mirrors, because prisms, which do not require coatings on the reflecting surface, are much more rugged than mirrors.

• May be fitted with additional optical capabilities such as range-finding and targeting.

Cons.

•mechanically disadvantage: Complex optically ; Some have a narrow field of view ; May be detected by others 

Ungainly (long, takes up space)

• Heavy weight

Lens - Terrestrial telescope

Pro: An advantage is that it makes it possible to vary the magnification of the telescope.

Cons- This system has the disadvantage increasing the length of the telescope.

Mirror- Terrestrial telescope (Cassegrain)

Pro: Good for distant terrestrial viewing.

greater magnification is attained.

They are more shorter

Cons- It is not what people expect a telescope to look like.

Slight light loss due to secondary mirror obstruction compared to refractors. Generally not suited for most terrestrial applications nor for to view objects in the sky.

i guess it’s a and b