[NatureNS] magnification/reduction

From: David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com>
To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 20:28:01 -0400
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Dear All,                        Jan 31, 2014
    The Feb. issue of National Geographic has an article on the brain which 
nicely illustrates a common convention for expressing magnification in terms 
of area as opposed to length (foldout after page 43; magnification by 100 
decreases length to 1/10).
    But when something is represented at say 1/3 natural size the linear 
dimensions are decreased to 1/3 of natural.

    Does anyone know the background of the convention for expressing 
magnification in terms of area ? Does this convention apply only to objects 
viewed through some optical instrument; mike, telescope, binoc.?

     Is it perhaps because, for equal image brightness, light 
intensity/capture/sensitivity must be increased to the same extent as does 
magnification expressed on an area basis ?

Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville



     . 

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