Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-ii-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2019/2/solution
Past exam of the mathematical methods II course of the University of Oxford 2019 2 Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
The solid angle is the intercepted surface area on a sphere of radius , divided by . Take the cone axis as the polar axis of spherical coordinates, and call its half-opening angle . With polar integration variable ,For small measured in radians, the Taylor series of the cosine givesThis is the solid angle of a circular cone, measured in steradians.
The supplied angular diameter is twice the half-opening angle, soHence either apparent disc subtendsThe fraction is about of the entire celestial sphere. Using the angular diameter directly in would give four times the correct small-angle answer.
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