A refracting telescope primarily uses which of the following types of lenses?

• A. Two converging lenses
• B. Two diverging lenses
• C. One concave and one convex lens
• D. Only one lens

Answer: (B)

The correct selection regarding the lenses used in a refracting telescope is that it primarily utilizes two converging lenses. A refracting telescope is designed to gather and magnify light from distant celestial objects, and it achieves this through the use of convex lenses, which bend light rays toward each other (converge) to create a magnified image.

In this context, the objective lens located at the front of the telescope gathers light and brings it to a focus, while the eyepiece lens further magnifies the image formed at that focus. This combination of two converging lenses, each with specific focal lengths, produces a clear and enlarged view of distant objects.

While diverging lenses and combinations of concave and convex lenses are used in other optical instruments, they do not serve the primary function of a refracting telescope. Choices that suggest using diverging lenses or singular lenses fail to fulfill the requirements for creating the proper magnification and focus needed for astronomical observations.