Ever wondered why optical instruments, like telescopes or microscopes, can't infinitely zoom into tiny details? 🌌🔬 The limit lies in the *wave nature of light*—called the *diffraction limit*. When light passes through a circular aperture (like a lens or mirror), it spreads out into a diffraction pattern with a central bright spot, the *Airy disk*, surrounded by dim rings. The smaller this disk, the better the resolution. The *Rayleigh criterion* defines this limit: θ = 1.22(λ/D), where λ is the wavelength of light, and D is the aperture diameter. A larger aperture or shorter wavelength leads to sharper images. 🚀 Diffraction-limited instruments, like the Hubble Space Telescope, achieve the maximum theoretical resolution, producing stunningly detailed images of the universe. 🌟 In everyday optics, it explains why lens quality and size are crucial for clarity in cameras, microscopes, and telescopes. #physics #optics #space