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Lesson 3 of 11

5 min

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Is that one lamp in the photo, or two?

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The idea

It may be two lamps that look like one.

A thermometer, a microscope and a telescope are instruments. They help us measure or look.

A picture is made of small squares. Each square shows one thing. The rows and columns of squares form a grid.

A finer grid gives smaller squares. Two things in one square look like one blob, a blurred patch.

Coarse grid: two lights land in one square.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Coarse grid: two lights land in one square.
  2. On screen, that reads as one spot.
  3. Finer grid: more, smaller squares.
  4. The same two lights now land in separate squares.

A finer tool shows more. It also brings new questions.

Watch out!

Zooming in on a photo does not split a blob. Only smaller squares can.

Try the lab to finish this lesson.