Human Eye and Lens Camera

MCQ’S

1. A far-sighted man who has lost his spectacles, reads a book by looking through a small
hole (3-4 mm) in a sheet of paper. The reason will be
(a) Because the hole produces an image of the letters at a longer distance
(b) Because in doing so, the focal length of the eye lens is effectively increased
(c) Because in doing so, the focal length of the eye lens is effectively decreased
(d) both (a) and (b)
(e) both (a) and (d)
(f) None of these
Ans: C
2. For a normal eye, the least distance of distinct vision is
(a) 0.25 m (b) 0.50 m
(c) 25 m (d) Infinite c
(e) 25km (f) 25mm
Ans: A
3. For the myopic eye, the defect is cured by
(a) Convex lens (b) Concave lens
(c) Cylindrical lens (d) Toric lens
(e) plane mirror (f) prism

Ans: B
4. Lens used to remove long sightedness (hypermetropia) is
or
A person suffering from hypermetropia requires which type of spectacle lenses

(a) Concave lens (b) Plano-concave lens

(c) Convexo-concave lens (d) Convex lens
(e) plano-convex lens (f) none of these

Ans: D
5. Substance on the choroid is
(a) Japan black (b) Nigrim pigment
(c) Carbon black (d) Platinum black
(e) tissues (f) plasma
Ans: B
6. Astigmatism (for a human eye) can be removed by using
(a) Concave lens (b) Convex lens
(c) Cylindrical lens (d) Prismatic lens
(e) plane mirror (f) prism
Ans: C
7. Circular part in the center of retina is called
(a) Blind spot (b) Yellow spot
(c) Red spot (d) both (a) and (b)
(e) green spot (f) None of the above
Ans: B
8. Image formed on the retina is
(a) Real and inverted (b) Virtual and erect
(c) Real and erect (d) Virtual and inverted
(e) both (a) and (b) (f) None of the above
Ans: A
9. If there had been one eye of the man, then
(a) Image of the object would have been inverted
(b) Visible region would have decreased
(c) Image would have not been seen three dimensional
(d) (b) and (c) both
(e) (a) and (c) both
(f) (a) and (b) both
Ans: D

10. A person cannot see distinctly at the distance less than one metre. Calculate the power
of the lens that he should use to read a book at a distance of 25 cm
(a) + 3.0 D (b) + 0.125 D
(c) – 3.0 D (d) + 4.0 D
(e) +3.0 m (f) -3.0m
Ans: A

11. How should people wearing spectacles work with a microscope

(a) They cannot use the microscope at all
(b) They should keep on wearing their spectacles
(c) They should take off spectacles
(d) (b) and (c) is both way
(e) (a) and (c) is both way
(f) none of these
Ans: C

12. A man who cannot see clearly beyond 5 m wants to see stars clearly. He should use a
lens of focal length
(a) – 100 m (b) + 5 m
(c) – 5 m (d) Very large
(e) – 5 cm (f) – 500 cm
Ans: C
13. A man can see only between 75 cm and 200 cm. The power of lens to correct the near
point will be
(a) + 8/3 D (b) + 3 D
(c) – 3 D (d) – 8/3 D
(e) + 8/3 m (f) + 8/3 cm
Ans: A

14. Image is formed for the short-sighted person at

(a) Retina (b) Before retina
(c) Behind the retina (d) Image is not formed at all
(e) both (a) and (b) (f) none of these
Ans: B
15. A man can see the objects upto a distance of one metre from his eyes. For correcting his
eye sight so that he can see an object at infinity, he requires a lens whose power is
or
A man can see upto 100 cm of the distant object. The power of the lens required to see
far objects will be
(a) + 0.5 D (b) + 1.0 D
(c) + 2.0 D (d) – 1.0 D
(e) – 1.0 m (f) – 1.0 cm
Ans: D

16. A man can see the object between 15 cm and 30 cm. He uses the lens to see the far
objects. Then due to the lens used, the near point will be at
10
(a) 3 cm (b) 30 cm
100
(c) 15 cm (d) 3 cm
(e) 30 m (f) 15 m
Ans: B

17. The far point of a myopia eye is at 40 cm. For removing this defect, the power of lens
required will be
(a) 40 D (b) – 4 D
(c) – 2.5 D (d) 0.25 D
(e) 40 m (f) – 2.5 m
Ans: C
18. A man suffering from myopia can read a book placed at 10 cm distance. For reading the
book at a distance of 60 cm with relaxed vision, focal length of the lens required will be
(a) 45 cm (b) – 20 cm
(c) – 12 cm (d) 30 cm
(e) – 12 m (f) 60 m
Ans: C
19. If the distance of the far point for a myopia patient is doubled, the focal length of the
lens required to cure it will become 
(a) Half
(b) Double
(c) The same but a convex lens
(d) The same but a concave lens
(e) both (a) and (b)
(f) none of these
Ans: B
20. A presbyopic patient has near point as 30 cm and far point as 40 cm. The dioptric power
for the corrective lens for seeing distant objects is
(a) 40 D (b) 4 D
(c) – 2.5 D (d) 0.25 D
(e) 0.25 m (f) 0.25 cm
Ans: C
21. An imaginary line joining the optical centre of the eye lens and the yellow point is
called as
(a) Principal axis (b) Vision axis
(c) Neutral axis (d) Optical axis
(e) x-axis (f) none of these
Ans: B

22. The light when enters the human eye experiences most of the refraction while passing
through
(a) Cornea (b) Aqueous humour
(c) Vitrous humour (d) Crystalline lens
(e) Pupil (f) ciliary muscles
Ans: A
23. The impact of an image on the retina remains for
(a) 0.1 sec (b) 0.5 sec
(c) 10 sec (d) 15 sec
(e) 10 sec
-2
(f) 10-16 sec
Ans: A
24. A person is suffering from myopic defect. He is able to see clear objects placed at 15
cm. What type and of what focal length of lens he should use to see clearly the object
placed 60 cm away
(a) Concave lens of 20 cm focal length
(b) Convex lens of 20 cm focal length
(c) Concave lens of 12 cm focal length
(d) Convex lens of 12 cm focal length
(e) Convex lens of 20 m focal length
 (f) both (a) and (b)
Ans: A
25. The sensation of vision in the retina is carried to the brain by
(a) Ciliary muscles (b) Blind spot
(c) Cylindrical lens (d) Optic nerve
(e) Pupil (f) none of these
Ans: D
26. When the power of eye lens increases, the defect of vision is produced. The defect is
known as
(a) Shortsightedness (b) Longsightedness
(c) Colour blindness (d) Cataract
(e) Presbyopia (f) None of the above
Ans: A
27. A man is suffering from colour blindness for green colour. To remove this defect, he
should use goggles of
(a) Green colour glasses (b) Red colour glasses
(c) Smoky colour glasses (d) Black colour glasses
(e) Yellow colour glasses (f) None of the above
Ans: F
28. In human eye the focussing is done by
(a) To and fro movement of eye lens
(b) To and fro movement of the retina
(c) Change in the convexity of the lens surface
(d) Change in the refractive index of the eye fluids
(e) both (a) and (b)
(f) none of these
Ans: C
29. A short-sighted person can see distinctly only those objects which lie between 10 cm
and 100 cm from him. The power of the spectacle lens required to see a distant object is
(a) + 0.5 D (b) – 1.0 D
(c) – 10 D (d) + 4.0 D
(e) + 4.0 m (f) – 1.0 m
Ans: B
30. A person can see clearly only upto a distance of 25 cm. He wants to read a book placed
at a distance of 50 cm. What kind of lens does he require for his spectacles and what
must be its power?
(a) Concave, – 1.0 D (b) Convex, + 1.5 D
(c) Concave, – 2.0 D (d) Convex, + 2.0 D
(e) Concave, – 1.0 m (f) Concave, – 1.0 cm
Ans: C
 Multiple, multiple answers
31. A person's near point is 50 cm and his far point is 3 m. Power of the lenses he requires
for
(i) reading and
(ii) for seeing distant stars are
(a) – 2 D and 0.33 D (b) 2 D and – 0.33 D
(c) – 2 D and 3 D (d) 0.5 m and – 0.33 D

Ans: B, D
32. A person wears glasses of power – 2.5 D. The defect of the eye and the far point of the
person without the glasses are respectively
(a) Farsightedness, 40 cm (b) Nearsightedness, 40 cm
(c) Nearsightedness, 0.4 m (d) Nearsightedness, 250 cm

Ans: B, C

33. Myopia is due to

(a) Elongation of eye ball
(b) Irregular change in focal length
(c) Shortening of eye ball
(d) thickening of eye lens
Ans: A, D

34. A person is suffering from the defect astigmatism. Its main reason is
(a) Distance of the eye lens from retina is increased
(b) Distance of the eye lens from retina is decreased
(c) Lens is misshapen
(d) Cornea is misshapen

Ans: C, D

35. A person cannot see objects clearly beyond 2.0 m. The power of lens required to correct
his vision will be
(a) + 2.0 m (b) – 1.0 D
(c) + 1.0 D (d) – 0.5 D

Ans: A, D

36. The resolving limit of healthy eye is about

' ''
(a) 1 (b) 1
 ( )
°
1 1
} {¿
(c) 60 (d) 60
Ans: A, C

37. When objects at different distances are seen by the eye, which of the following remains
constant
(a) The focal length of the eye lens
(b) The distance from the eye lens to retina
(c) The radii of curvature of the eye lens
(d) The image distance from the eye lens

Ans: B, D

38. A person wears glasses of power – 2.0 D. The defect of the eye and the far point of the
person without the glasses will be
(a) Nearsighted, 50 cm (b) Farsighted, 50 cm
(c) Nearsighted, 0.5 m (d) Astigmatism, 50 cm

Ans: A, C

39. An eye specialist prescribes spectacles having a combination of convex lens of focal
length 40 cm in contact with a concave lens of focal length 25 cm. The power of this
lens combination in diopters is
(a) + 1.5 (b) – 1.5
+3
(c) (d) – 6.67
2
Ans: B, C

40. Near and far points of a human eye are

(a) 0 and 25 cm (b) 0.25m and 
(c) 25 cm and 100 cm (d) 25 cm and 
Ans: B, D

41. Retina of eye acts like ........ of camera

(a) Shutter (b) Film
(c) Lens (d) Screen
Ans: B, D

42. The hypermetropia is

(a) Short-side defect (b) Long- side defect
(c) Bad vision due to old age (d) Due to increase of size of the eye ball
Ans: B, D

43. A man cannot see clearly the objects beyond a distance of 20 cm from his eyes. To see
distant objects clearly, he must use which kind of lenses and of what focal length
(a) 0.2 m concave (b) 100 cm concave
(c) 20 cm convex (d) 20 cm concave
Ans: A, D

44. A person uses spectacles of power +2D. He is suffering from

(a) Hypermetropia
(b) Long sightedness
(c) Short sightedness
(d) Myopia
Ans: A, B

45. To remove myopia (short sightedness) a lens of power 0.66 D is required. The distant
point of the eye is approximately
(a) 100 cm (b) 150 cm
(c) 1.5 m (d) 25 cm
Ans: B, C

46. A person suffering from 'presbyopia' (myopia and hyper metropia both defects) should
use
(a) A concave lens
(b) A convex lens
(c) A bifocal lens whose lower portion is convex
(d) A bifocal lens whose upper portion is concave
Ans: C, D

47. A person who can see things most clearly at a distance of 10 cm. Requires spectacles to
enable to him to see clearly things at a distance of 30 cm. What should be the focal
length of the spectacles
(a) 15 cm (Concave) (b) 15 cm (Convex)
(c) 10 cm (d) +15 cm
Ans: A,D

48. Far points of myopic eye is 250 cm, then the focal length of the lens to be used will be
(a) – 250 cm (b) – 250/9 cm
(c) + 2.5 cm (d) + 250/9 cm
Ans: A, C
49. A man can see clearly up to 3 metres. Prescribe a lens for his spectacles so that he can
see clearly up to 12 metres
(a) – 3/4 D (b) 3 D
(c) – 1/4 D (d) – 4 m
Ans: C, D

50. A person can not see the objects clearly placed at a distance more than 40 cm. He is
advised to use a lens of power
(a) – 2.5 D (b) + 2.5 D
–2
(c) m (d) + 1.5 D
5
Ans: A, C

51. A person uses a lens of power + 3D to normalize vision. Near point of hypermetropic
eye is
(a) 1 m (b) 1.66 m
(c) 2 m (d) 100 cm
Ans: A, D

52. A defective eye cannot see close objects clearly because their image is formed
(a) On the eye lens
(b) The refracted light rays converge behind the retina
(c) On the retina
(d) Beyond retina
Ans: B, D

53. Image formed on retina of eye is proportional to

(a) Size of object (b) height of the object
Size of object size of image
(c) Size of image (d) size of object
Ans: A, B

54. A student can distinctly see the object upto a distance 15 cm. He wants to see the black
board at a distance of 3 m. Focal length and power of lens used respectively will be
(a) −4.8 cm,−3.3 D (b) −0.158 m ,−6.3 D
(c) −7.5 cm ,−6.3 D (d) −15.8 cm ,−6.3 D
Ans: B, D

55. The light gathering power of a camera lens depends on

(a) Its diameter only
(b) Ratio of focal length and diameter
(c) Product of focal length and diameter
(d) Aperture
Ans: A, D

56. The human eye has a lens which has a

(a) Varying focal length
(b) Hard surface
(c) Varying refractive index
(d) Constant refractive index
Ans: A, C

57. A man with defective eyes cannot see distinctly object at the distance more than 60 cm
from his eyes. The power of the lens to be used will be
−1
(a) + 60 D (b) m
1.66
1
D
(c) – 1.66 D (d) 66
1 .

Ans: B, C

58. Which of the following statement is correct?

(a) A person with myopia can see distant objects clearly
(b) A person with hypermetropia can see nearby objects clearly
(c) A person with myopia can see nearby objects clearly
(d) A person with hypermetropia can see distant objects clearly
Ans: C, D

59. Ability of the eye to see objects at all distances

(a) Means able to change the focal length (b) Means myopia
(c) Means hypermetropia (d) Means accommodation
Ans: A, D

60.
1. F

2.

3.

4.

Identify the wrong description of the above figures

(a) 1 represents far-sightedness
 (b) 4 correction for long-sightedness
(c) 3 represents far sightedness
(d) 2 correction for far-sightedness
Ans: A, D
Assertion and Reason

Read the assertion and reason carefully to mark the correct option out of the options given
below:
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the
assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of the
assertion.
(c) If assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) If the assertion and reason both are false.
(e) If assertion is false but reason is true.
1. Assertion : A red object appears dark in the yellow light
Reason : A red colour is scattered less
Ans: B
2. Assertion : The stars twinkle while the planets do not.
Reason : The stars are much bigger in size than the planets.
Ans: B
3. Assertion : Owls can move freely during night.
Reason : They have large number of rods on their retina.
Ans: C
4. Assertion : The air bubble shines in water.
Reason : Air bubble in water shines due to refraction of light
Ans: C
5. Assertion : In a movie, ordinarily 24 frames are projected per second from one end to
the other of the complete film.
Reason : The image formed on retina of eye is sustained upto 1/10 second after the
removal of stimulus.
Ans: C
6. Assertion : Blue colour of sky appears due to scattering of blue colour.
Reason : Blue colour has shortest wave length in visible spectrum.
Ans: A

7. Assertion : The refractive index of diamond is √ 6 and that of liquid is √ 3 . If the light
travels from diamond to the liquid, it will totally reflected when the angle of
incidence is 30o.
1
μ= ,
Reason : sin C where  is the refractive index of diamond with respect to liquid.
Ans: E
8. Assertion : The setting sun appears to be red.
Reason : Scattering of light is directly proportional to the wavelength.
Ans: C
9. Assertion : A double convex lens ( = 1.5) has focal length 10 cm. When the lens is
immersed in water ( = 4/3) its focal length becomes 40 cm.
1 μl −μm 1
Reason :
f
=
μm (−
1
R1 R2 )
Ans: A
10. Assertion : Different colours travel with different speed in vacuum.
Reason : Wavelength of light depends on refractive index of medium.
Ans: E
11. Assertion : The colour of the green flower seen through red glass appears to be dark.
Reason : Red glass transmits only red light.
Ans: A
12. Assertion : The focal length of the mirror is f and distance of the object from the focus
is u, the magnification of the mirror is f / u.
Size of image
=
Reason : Magnification Size of object
Ans: A
13. Assertion : If a plane glass slab is placed on the letters of different colours all the
letters appear to be raised up to the same height.
Reason : Different colours have different wavelengths.
Ans: E
14. Assertion : The fluorescent tube is considered better than an electric bulb.
Reason : Efficiency of fluorescent tube is more than the efficiency of electric bulb.
Ans: A
15. Assertion : The polar caps of earth are cold in comparison to equatorial plane.
Reason : The radiation absorbed by polar caps is less than the radiation absorbed by
equatorial plane.
Ans: C
16. Assertion : The illumination of earth's surface from sun is more at noon than in the
morning.
Reason : Luminance of a surface refers to brightness of the surface.
Ans: B
17. Assertion : When an object is placed between two plane parallel mirrors, then all the
images found are of equal intensity.
Reason : In case of plane parallel mirrors, only two images are possible.
Ans: D
18. Assertion : The mirrors used in search lights are parabolic and not concave spherical.
Reason : In a concave spherical mirror the image formed is always virtual.
Ans: C
19. Assertion : The size of the mirror affect the nature of the image.
Reason : Small mirrors always forms a virtual image.
Ans: D
20. Assertion : Just before setting, the sun may appear to be elliptical. This happens due to
refraction.
Reason : Refraction of light ray through the atmosphere may cause different
magnification in mutually perpendicular directions.
Ans: A
21. Assertion : Critical angle of light passing from glass to air is minimum for violet
colour.
Reason : The wavelength of blue light is greater than the light of other colours.
Ans: C
22. Assertion : We cannot produce a real image by plane or convex mirrors under any
circumstances.
Reason : The focal length of a convex mirror is always taken as positive.
Ans: E
23. Assertion : A piece of red glass is heated till it glows in dark. The colour of glowing
glass would be orange.
Reason : Red and orange is complementary colours.
Ans: D
24. Assertion : Within a glass slab, a double convex air bubble is formed. This air bubble
behaves like a converging lens.
Reason : Refractive index of air is more than the refractive index of glass.
Ans: D
25. Assertion : The images formed by total internal reflections are much brighter than
those formed by mirrors or lenses.
Reason : There is no loss of intensity in total internal reflection.
Ans: A
26. Assertion : The focal length of lens does not change when red light is replaced by blue
light.
Reason : The focal length of lens does not depends on colour of light used.
Ans: D
27. Assertion : There is no dispersion of light refracted through a rectangular glass slab.
Reason : Dispersion of light is the phenomenon of splitting of a beam of white light
into its constituent colours.
Ans: B
28. Assertion : All the materials always have the same colour, whether viewed by
reflected light or through transmitted light.
Reason : The colour of material does not depend on nature of light.
Ans: D
29. Assertion : A beam of white light gives a spectrum on passing through a hollow prism.
Reason : Speed of light outside the prism is different from the speed of light inside the
prism.
Ans: D
30. Assertion : By increasing the diameter of the objective of telescope, we can increase
its range.
Reason : The range of a telescope tells us how far away a star of some standard
brightness can be spotted by telescope.
Ans: B
31. Assertion : For the sensitivity of a camera, its aperture should be reduced.
Reason : Smaller the aperture, image focusing is also sharp.
Ans: C
32. Assertion : If objective and eye lenses of a microscope are interchanged then it can
work as telescope.
Reason : The objective of telescope has small focal length.
Ans: D
33. Assertion : The illuminance of an image produced by a convex lens is greater in the
middle and less towards the edges.
Reason : The middle part of image is formed by undeflected rays while outer part by
inclined rays.
Ans: A
34. Assertion : Although the surfaces of a goggle lens are curved, it does not have any
power.
Reason : In case of goggles, both the curved surfaces have equal radii of curvature.
Ans: A
35. Assertion : The resolving power of an electron microscope is higher than that of an
optical microscope.
Reason : The wavelength of electron is more than the wavelength of visible light.
Ans: C
36. Assertion : If the angles of the base of the prism are equal, then in the position of
minimum deviation, the refracted ray will pass parallel to the base of prism.
Reason : In the case of minimum deviation, the angle of incidence is equal to the
angle of emergence.
Ans: A
37. Assertion : Dispersion of light occurs because velocity of light in a material depends
upon its colour.
Reason : The dispersive power depends only upon the material of the prism, not upon
the refracting angle of the prism.
Ans: B
38. Assertion : An empty test tube dipped into water in a beaker appears silver, when
viewed from a suitable direction.
Reason : Due to refraction of light, the substance in water appears silvery.
Ans: C
39. Assertion : Spherical aberration occur in lenses of larger aperture.
 Reason : The two rays, paraxial and marginal rays focus at different points.
Ans: A
40. Assertion : It is impossible to photograph a virtual image.
Reason : The rays which appear diverging from a virtual image fall on the camera and
a real image is captured.
Ans: E
41. Assertion : The speed of light in a rarer medium is greater than that in a denser
medium
Reason : One light year equals to 9.5 × 1012 km
Ans: B
42. Assertion : The frequencies of incident, reflected and refracted beam of
monochromatic light incident from one medium to another are same
Reason : The incident, reflected and refracted rays are coplanar
Ans: B
43. Assertion : The refractive index of a prism depends only on the kind of glass of which
it is made of and the colour of light
Reason : The refractive index of a prism depends upon the refracting angle of the
prism and the angle of minimum deviation
Ans: C
44. Assertion : The resolving power of a telescope is more if the diameter of the objective
lens is more.
Reason : Objective lens of large diameter collects more light.
Ans: A
45. Assertion : By roughening the surface of a glass sheet its transparency can be reduced.
Reason : Glass sheet with rough surface absorbs more light.
Ans: C
46. Assertion : Diamond glitters brilliantly.
Reason : Diamond does not absorb sunlight.
Ans: B
47. Assertion : The cloud in sky generally appear to be whitish.
Reason : Diffraction due to cloud is efficient in equal measure at all wavelengths.
Ans: C
 Answers

Assertion and Reason

1 B 2 B 3 C 4 C 5 C
6 A 7 E 8 C 9 A 10 E
11 A 12 A 13 E 14 A 15 C
16 B 17 D 18 C 19 D 20 A
21 C 22 E 23 D 24 D 25 A
26 D 27 B 28 D 29 D 30 B
31 C 32 D 33 A 34 A 35 C
36 A 37 B 38 C 39 A 40 E
41 B 42 B 43 C 44 A 45 C
46 B 47 C

Fill in the blanks

1. A person cannot see distinctly objects kept beyond 2 m. This defect can be corrected by
using a lens of power ___________________

Ans: ─0.5 D

2. A student sitting on the last bench can read the letters written on the blackboard but is not
able to read the letters written in his text book. Which of the following statements is
correct __________________

Ans: The near point of his eyes has receded away

3. At noon the sun appears white as _______________

Ans: light is least scattered

4. ____________________phenomena of light are involved in the formation of a rainbow.

Ans: Refraction, dispersion and internal reflection

5. Twinkling of stars is due to atmospheric ___________________

Ans: refraction of light by different layers of varying refractive indices

6. The clear sky appears blue, because __________________

Ans: violet and blue lights get scattered more than lights of all other colours by the
atmosphere

7. _________________________________________________is correct regarding the

propagation of light of different colours of white light in air?

Ans: All the colours of the white light move with the same speed

8. The danger signals installed at the top of tall buildings are red in colour. These can be
easily seen from a distance because among all other colours, the red light
________________________

Ans: is scattered the least by smoke or fog

9. _________________________________phenomena contributes significantly to the

reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise or sunset.

Ans: Scattering of light

10. When light rays enter the eye, most of the refraction occurs at the _________________

Ans: outer surface of the cornea

11. The focal length of the eye lens increases when eye muscles
________________________________________________________________________
________
Ans: are relaxed and lens becomes thinner

12. The least distance of distinct vision for a normal eye is

_____________________________________________

Ans: 25cm

13. The defect of vision in which a person cannot see the distant objects clearly but can see
nearby objects clearly is called ______________________________

Ans: myopia

14. The splitting of white light into different colours on passing through a prism is called
____________________________

Ans: dispersion

15. When white light enters a glass prism from air, the angle of deviation is maximum for
_________________________

Ans: red light

16. The medical condition in which the lens of the eye of a person becomes progressively
cloudy resulting in blurred vision is called _____________________________________

Ans: cataract

17. Very fine particles scatter more of ____________ color.

Ans: Blue

18. When light falls at critical angle on the surface of a rarer medium while coming from a
denser medium, the refracting angle is ____________ .

Ans: 90°
19. ________________________________________________________________________
__is the part of our eyes that helps us to focus near and distant objects in quick
succession.

Ans: Ciliary muscles help in changing the focal length of the eye lens.

20. ________________________________transmits the visual information in the form of

electrical signal generated at retina to the brain.

Ans: optic nerve

Essay Questions

1. (a) Draw a diagram to show the formation of image of a distant object by a myopic eye.
How can such an eye defect be remedied?
(b) State two reasons due to which this eye defect may be caused.
(c) A person with a myopic eye cannot see objects beyond a distance of 1.5 m. What
would be the power of the corrective lens used to restore proper vision? 
Answer:
(a) Object at infinity, image is formed in front of retina.

(b) Myopia is caused due to:

 Elongation of eye ball

 Excessive curvature in cornea, focal length decreases.

(c) Far point of myopic eye is 1.5 m = u to change far point to infinity = v
focal length of power → P = ?,   f = ?
2. (a) What is meant by dispersion of white light? Describe the formation of rainbow in the
sky with the help of a diagram.
(b) What is hypermetropia? Draw ray diagrams to show the image formation of an objects
by (i) hypermetropic eye
(ii) Correction made with a suitable lens for hypermetropic eye.

Answer:
(a) The splitting of white light into its constituent seven colours is called dispersion of light.
Rainbow formation in the sky: The water droplets suspended in the atmosphere after rain
causes the splitting of sunlight by acting as small prism. The light enters the water droplets,
refracts, splits and shows internal reflection. Then again undergoes refraction to give a band
of seven colours called rainbow.

(b) Hypermetropia: Also called long-sightedness. Person can see long distant objects but
cannot see nearby objects distinctly. This is because the eye ball becomes smaller, focal
length increases. It can be corrected by using converging lens called convex lens.
3. (a) What is hypermetropia?
(b) What are the two causes of the defect of vision?
(c) How can this defect of the eye be corrected? Illustrate your answer by drawing ray
diagrams to show the formation of image by
(i) a hypermetropic eye
(ii) a hypermetropic eye corrected with a suitable lens.
Answer:
(a) Hypermetropia: It is also called long-sightedness. The person with this eye defect can
see far off objects but cannot see nearby objects clearly. The image is formed beyond
retina.

(b) Two causes

1. Focal length of the lens increases

2. Eye ball becomes smaller

(c) Correction: It can be corrected by using a convex lens. It is a converging lens which shifts
the image of the object on the retina.
4. Study the diagram given below and answer the question that it follows:
(a) Which defect of vision is represented in this case? Give reason for your answer.
(b) What could be the two causes of this defect?
(c) With the help of a diagram show how this defect can be corrected by the use of a
suitable lens.

Answer:
(a) The defect is hypermetropia, as the image of near point is formed beyond retina.

(b) Two causes

1. Focal length of the lens increases

2. Eye ball becomes smaller

(c) Correction: It can be corrected by using a convex lens. It is a converging lens which shifts
the image of the object on the retina.

5. (a) What is myopia? State the two causes of myopia and with the help of a labelled ray
diagrams show:
(i) the eye defect myopia.
(ii) correction of myopia using a lens.
(b) Why is the normal eye unable to focus on an object placed within 10 cm from the eye? 

Answer:
(a) Myopia or short-sightedness – Eye can see objects at short distance. Inability of the eye in
viewing long distant objects. The image falls before retina.
Causes:

 Elongation of eye ball.

  Excessive curvature in cornea and focal length of lens decreases.

Correction: By using concave lens (diverging lens), which shifts the image to the retina by
diverging the rays further.

Object at infinity, image is formed in front of retina.

Myopia is caused due to:

 Elongation of eye ball

 Excessive curvature in cornea, focal length decreases.

(b) The near point of human eye is 25 cm which cannot be changed further hence the objects
within 10 cm of the eye cannot be viewed.

6. (a) What is dispersion of white light? What is the cause of such dispersion? Draw a
diagram to show the dispersion of white light by a glass prism.
(b) A glass prism is able to produce a spectrum when white light passes through it but a
glass slab does not produce any spectrum. Explain why? 

Answer:
(a) Dispersion of light: The splitting of white light into seven colours on passing through a
transparent medium like glass prism is called dispersion of light.
Diagram: Dispersion of light
we get different colours because each colour of light has different bending ability when they
pass through the glass prism due to their different speed.

(b) Dispersion does not take place in glass slab as two refracting surfaces are parallel. The
light does not split into its constituent colours.

7. Explain in brief the reason for each of the following:   

(a) Advanced sunrise
(b) Delayed sunset
(c) Twinkling of stars

Answer:
(a) Advanced sunrise: When the sun is slightly below the horizon light rays coming from the
sun travel from the rarer to denser medium layers of air because of atmospheric refraction of
light, light appears to come from a higher position above the horizon. Thus the sun appears
earlier than actual sunrise.

(b) Delayed sunset: Same reason as similar refraction occurs at the sunset.

(c) Stars twinkle due to atmospheric refraction of light from the stars and changing density of
air around the earth.

8. (a) A student cannot see clearly a chart hanging on a wall placed at a distance 3 m from
his eye. Name the defect of vision he is suffering from. Draw a ray diagram to
illustrate this defect. List its two possible causes.
(b) Draw a ray diagram to show how this defect may be corrected using a lens of
appropriate focal length.
(c) An eye donation camp is being organized by social workers in your locality. How and
why would you help in this cause?

Answer:
(a) Myopia is caused due to:

 Elongation of eye ball

 Excessive curvature in cornea, focal length decreases.
(b)

(c) The human eye donation camp encourages people to donate eyes: The corneal blindness
can be corrected only by a cornea donor and it can help restore the eyesight of someone’s
sight.

To encourage people, one should educate the family members and-relatives and friends about
the importance of eye donation and remove the myth of eye donation.

9. A student is unable to see clearly the words written on the blackboard placed at a distance
of approximately 4 m from him. Name the defect of vision the boy is suffering from.
Explain the method of correcting this defect. Draw ray diagram for the:
(i) defect of vision and also
(ii) for its correction

Answer:
Myopia or short-sightedness – Eye can see objects at short distance. Inability of the eye in
viewing long distant objects. The image falls before retina.

Causes:

 Elongation of eye ball.

 Excessive curvature in cornea and focal length of lens decreases.
Corrected by concave lens

Myopia is caused due to:

 Elongation of eye ball

 Excessive curvature in cornea, focal length decreases.

(ii) Correction: By using concave lens (diverging lens), which shifts the image to the retina
by diverging the rays further.

10. (a) State the function of each of the following parts of the human eye :
(i) Cornea
(ii) Iris
(iii) Pupil
(iv) Retina
(b) Millions of people of the developing countries are suffering from corneal blindness.
This disease can be cured by replacing the defective cornea with the cornea of a donated
eye. Your school has organized a campaign in the school and its neighborhood in order to
create awareness about this fact and motivate people to donate their eyes after death. How
can you along with your classmates contribute in this noble cause? State the objectives of
organizing such campaigns in schools.

Answer:
(a) (i) Cornea – Refraction of the light rays falling on the eye.
(ii) Iris – To control the size of the pupil.
(iii) Pupil – To regulate and control the amount of light entering the eye.
(iv) Retina – To act as a screen to obtain the image of object and generate electrical signals
which are sent to the brain via optic nerves.

(b) Ways of motivating people for the noble cause of eye donation are street play, banners,
poster, door to door campaign, etc.
Objectives:

 To develop the habit of group work.

 To work for a common cause.
 To understand social issues and problems.

11. (a) Write the importance of ciliary muscles in the human eye. Name the defect of vision
that arises due to gradual weakening of the ciliary muscles in old age. What type of lenses
are required by the persons suffering from this defect to see the objects clearly?
(b) Akshay, sitting in the last row in his class, could not see clearly the words written on
the blackboard. When the teacher noticed it, he announced if any student sitting in the
front row could volunteer to exchange his seat with Akshay. Salman immediately agreed
to exchange his seat with Akshay. He could now see the words written on the blackboard
clearly. The teacher thought it fit to send the message to Akshay’s parents advising them
to get his eyesight checked.
In the context of the above event, answer the following questions:
(i) Which defect of vision is Akshay suffering from? Which type of lens is used to correct
this defect?
(ii) State the values displayed by the teacher and Salman.
(iii) In your opinion, in what way can Akshay express his gratitude towards the teacher
and Salman? 

Answer:
(a) Ciliary muscles modify the curvature of the eye lens to enable the eye to focus objects at
varying distances and help in adjusting the focal length of the eye lens.
The gradual weakening of the ciliary muscles in old age causes presbyopia. The persons
suffering from this defect need to use bifocal lenses.

(b) (i) Akshay is suffering from Myopia/Near sightedness.

Concave/Diverging lens is used to correct this defect.
(ii) The values displayed by the teacher and Salman are concerned and caring respectively.
(iii) Akshay can express his gratitude by thanking the teacher and Salman.

12. (a) What is dispersion of white light? State its cause.

(b) “Rainbow is an example of dispersion of sunlight”. Justify this statement by
explaining, with the help of a labelled diagram, the formation of a rainbow in the sky. List
two essential conditions for observing a rainbow. 

Answer:
(a) Definition of Dispersion: Splitting of white light into seven constituent colours by a
prism.
Cause of dispersion: When white light passes through a glass prism, different constituent
colours bend through different angles with respect to the incident ray and hence are
separated.
(b) Conditions for observing a rainbow:

 After the rainfall/at a water fountain.

 Sun is at the back of the observer.

13. What is atmospheric refraction? Use this phenomenon to explain the following natural
events.   
(i) Twinkling of stars
(ii) Advanced sun-rise and delayed sun-set.
Draw diagrams to illustrate your answers.

Answer:
Atmospheric Refraction: Refraction of light caused by the earth’s atmosphere due to change
in the refractive star indices of different layers is called atmospheric refraction.
(i) Twinkling of stars: Stars are distant point sized source of light. The path of the rays of
light coming from the star goes on varying due to atmospheric refraction slightly. Thus
apparent position of the stars fluctuates and the amount of star light entering the eye flickers
giving the twinkling effect.

(ii) Advanced Sunrise: When the sun is slightly below the horizon, light rays coming from the
sun travel from the rarer to denser layers of air. Because of atmospheric refraction of light,
light appears to come from a higher position above the horizon. Thus sun appears earlier than
actual sunrise.

Delayed Sunset: Same reason as similar refraction occurs at the sunset.

Short answer questions

1. A star sometimes appears brighter and some other times fainter. What is this effect
called? State the reason for this effect.
Answer:
This effect is called the twinkling effect. This is due to the various layers present in the
atmosphere which causes the change in the refractive index and the light undergoes multiple
refraction. The amount of light entering our eye keep changing and hence the star appears to
be twinkling, bright sometimes and fainter other times.

2. What is the colour of the clear sky during day time? Give reason for it.   

Answer:
(i) Clear sky appears blue because the white light of sun when enters the earth’s atmosphere
the large number of molecules present in the earth’s atmosphere scatter the blue colour more
strongly than red light. As blue light scatters the maximum it reaches our eyes.

(ii) The sun is visible to us 2 minutes before the actual sunrise because of atmospheric
refraction. When the sun is below the horizon, the light travelling from rarer to denser
medium, thus it bends and reaches our eyes creating an impression that it is above the
horizon.

Presbyopia: The person suffering from this disease cannot see nearby as well as far off
objects. It is caused due to weakening of ciliary muscles. This defect is caused due to ageing.
The lens is not able to change the focal length. It can be corrected by using bi-focal lens.

3. What is a spectrum? Why do different coloured rays deviate differently on passing

through a glass prim?

Answer:
The band of seven colour of visible light is called spectrum. The seven colours of light are
VIBGYOR, i.e., violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow and orange.

The speed of light of these colours is different when they travel into denser medium from the
rare medium and also bends differently showing different deviation.

4. What is meant by the term ‘power of accommodation’ of human eye? How does it help a
person to see nearby as well as distant objects clearly? 

Answer:
Power of accommodation: The ability of eye to adjust its focal length and view the nearby
and far away objects by forming an image on retina is called power of accommodation of
human eye.

To see the nearby objects, the ciliary muscle of the eye contracts and increases thickness of
eye lens. The focal length of the eye lens decreases and the image of the nearby object is
formed on the retina.

To see the far away objects the ciliary muscles relax and the eye lens become thin thereby
increasing the focal length of the lens and the image of the distant object is formed clearly on
the retina.

5. With the help of a labelled diagram, explain why the sun appears reddish at the sunrise
and the sunset.

Answer:
The sun is near the horizon at the sunrise and also at the sunset. Light from the Sun near the
horizon passes through thicker layers of air and also covers longer distance.
Most of the blue light and the shorter wavelengths of sunlight are scattered away by the
particles. Light of larger wavelength reaches us giving the reddish appearance.
6. What is meant by advance sunrise and delayed sunset? Draw a labelled diagram to
explain these phenomena.

Answer:
Due to atmospheric refraction, the sun is visible to us about two minutes before the actual
sunrise and about two minutes after the actual sunset.

7. Why is red color selected for danger signal lights?

Answer:
Red color light has maximum wavelength, it does not scatter due to atmosphere and
reaches our eyes, travels fast and hence used for danger signals.
8. When we enter a dim-lit room from a bright light, we are not able to see the object in the
room for some time.
Explain, why?
                                                                 Or
Why does it take some time to see objects in a cinema hall when we just enter the hall
from bright sun light? Explain.
Answer:
In a bright light, the iris contracts the pupil of an eye to allow less light to enter the eye.
When, we enter the dim-lit room, iris takes time to expand the pupil of an eye to allow
more light to enter the eye so that the visible image of the object lying in the room are
formed on the retina of the eye.
9. The ciliary muscles of a normal eye are in their (i) most relaxed (ii) most contracted state.
In which of the two cases is the focal length of the eye-lens more?
Answer:
The focal length of eye-lens is more when the ciliary muscles of a normal eye are in their
most relaxed state.
10. Why do we have two eyes instead of one eye?
Answer:
Two eyes are better than one eye because

1. the field of view with two eyes is more than with one eye.
2. two eyes give three-dimensional picture of an object (i.e., the length, breadth and
depth or height of an object) whereas one eye gives only two-dimensional picture of
an object.

11. A convex lens made of glass forms a sharp image on the screen for a particular position
of an object with respect to the lens. A human eye lens is also a convex lens but it can
form sharp images on the retina of eye for different positions of the objects. Explain,
why?
Answer:
A convex lens made of glass has a fixed focal length and hence it forms a sharp image on
the screen for a particular position of an object. However, the focal length of human eye
lens can be changed by the action of ciliary muscles. In other words, human eye lens has
the ability to chartge its focal length to form sharp images of objects at different positions.
The process is known as accommodation of eye.

12. How is a normal eye able to see distinctly distant as well as nearer objects? What is the
distance of distinct vision?
Answer:
Eye has the ability known as accommodation of eye to see distant as well as nearer
objects clearly. When objects is far away, the focal length of lens is increased due to the
relaxed ciliary muscles. Hence sharp image of object is formed on the retina of eye. When
object is nearer to the eye, the focal length of lens is decreased due to the contraction of
ciliary muscles and hence sharp image of the object is formed on the retina of eye. The
distance of distinct vision is 25 cm.

13. What is short-sightedness? How can this defect be corrected?

Answer:
Short-sightedness or near-sightedness or Myopia
A human eye is myopic if it can see the near objects clearly but unable to see far off
objects or distant objects clearly.
Causes of Wlyopia: This defect arises due to either by

1. the elongation of the eye ball or

2. the excessive curvature of the cornea.

14. What is long-sightedness? How can this defect be corrected?

Answer:
A human eye which can see far off objects or distant objects clearly but can not see the
near objects clearly is said to be suffered with a defect known as long sightedness or far
sightedness or Hypermetropia.
Causes of Hypermetropia: This defect arises due to either by
 1. the increase in the focal length of eye lens or
2. the size of the eye ball becomes too small so that the light rays from the nearby points
or objects are not brought to focus on the retina of the eye.

15. What is presbyopia? State the cause of Presbyopia. How is presbyopia of a person be
corrected?

Answer:
A human eye which cannot see the near objects and distant objects clearly is said to suffer
from a defect known as Presbyopia. Eye suffering from Presbyopia cannot read and write
comfortably.
This defect arises due to the ageing of a person. The ciliary muscles are weakened and the
flexibility of the crystalline lens of the human eye decreases with age of the person. As a
result, human eye is unable to focus on close as well as distant objects.
This defect can be corrected by using a bi-focal lens. A bi-focal lens consists of a concave
lens which forms the upper surface of the bi-focal lens and a convex lens which forms the
lower surface of the bi-focal lens. The upper surface of bi-focal lens (i.e. the concave
lens) enables the person to see distant objects clearly and the lower surface of bi-focal
lens {i.e. convex lens) enables the person to see the near objects.
16. An old person is unable to see clearly nearby object as well as distant objects.

1. What defect of vision is he suffering from?

2. What kind of lens will be required to see clearly the nearby as well as distant objects?
Give reasons?

Answer:

1. Presbyopia.
2. This defect is connected by using bi-focal lens. A bi-focal lens consists of a concave
lens which forms the upper surface of lens and a convex lens which form the lower
surface of the lens. The upper surface enables the person to see distant objects clearly
and the lower surface helps the person to see the near objects clearly.

17. A person suffering from an eye-defect uses lens of power -1D. Name the defect he is
suffering from and the nature of lens used.
Answer:
He is suffering from myopia. The lens is concave lens.
18. A person suffering from an eye-defect uses lens of power + IS D. Name the defect he is
suffering from and the nature of lens used.
Answer:
He is suffering from hypermetropia. The lens is convex lens.
19. Explain why the image distance in the eye does not change when we change the distance
of an object from the eye?
Answer:
This is because the eye lens has the ability to change its focal length to make the image
always on the retina when the distance of the object from the eye is changed.
20. Due to gradual weakening of ciliary muscles and diminishing flexibility of the eye lens a
certain defect of
vision arises. Write the name of this defect. Name the type of lens required by such
persons to improve the vision. Explain the structure and function of such a lens.
Answer:
Name of defet : Presbyopia
Type of lens required by persons suffering presbyopia to improve the vision is bi-focal
lens.
Bi-focal lens consists of a concave lens which forms the upper surface of a bi-focal lens
and a convex lens which forms the lower surface of the bi-focal lens. The upper surface
of the lens enables the person to see distant objects clearly and the lower surface of the
lens enables the person to see the near objects clearly.
21. What is dispersion of light? What is the cause of dispersion? Draw a diagram to show the
dispersion of white light by a glass prism.
Answer:
Dispersion of Light: The phenomenon of splitting white light into seven colours when it
passes through a glass prism is called dispersion of light.
Cause of Dispersion: When white light passes through a glass prism, its constituent
colours (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) travel with different speeds in the
prism. This causes the dispersion of light.

22. When white light passes through a glass prism, seven colours namely red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, indigo and violet are seen on the white screen. All these colours have
different angles of deviation. Explain why?
Answer:
Speed of colour in a medium depends upon its wavelength. All the colours have different
wavelength. The red colour has the longest wavelength and violet colour has the last
wavelength. Therefore, red colour has the highest speed in the glass prism and the violet
colour has the lowest speed in the glass prism. Hence, all colours of white light are
refracted by different amounts while passing through the glass prism. Therefore, all the
colours have different angles of deviations.
23. Why do different colours get separated when white light passes through prism I How can
we recombine the components of white light after a prism has separated them ? Explain
with the help of figure.
Answer:
Different colours have different speeds in glass prism. Due to this fact, different colours
get separated while passing through the prism.
Perform an activity to show that the colours of white light splitted by a glass prism can be
 recombined to get white light by another glass prism.
Apparatus required: Two glass prisms made of same kind of glass, a card board having
a fine hole at its centre, a white screen.
Procedure:

1. Place a card board in front of a prism A. A ray of white light coming from the hole in
the card board falls on the prism A (Figure 11).

2. White light splits into seven colours by prism A is made to fall on another glass prism
B placed with its base upward. Since prism A disperses white light, so it is known as
dispersing prism.
3. The prism B deviates colours of light towards its base. The various colours recombine
at the opposite lace of glass prism B.
4. This activity was initially performed by the great scientist Issac Newton.
The light received on the white screen placed in front of prism B is white. Since the
prism B recombines the colours of light to produce white light, so glass prism B is
known as recombination prism.

24. How will you use two identical glass prisms so that a narrow beam of white light incident
on one prism emerges out of the second prism as a beam of white light? Draw a labelled
diagram to illustrate it.
Answer:
Perform an activity to show that the colours of white light splitted by a glass prism can be
recombined to get white light by another glass prism.
Apparatus required: Two glass prisms made of same kind of glass, a card board having
a fine hole at its centre, a white screen.

Procedure:
 1. Place a card board in front of a prism A. A ray of white light coming from the hole in
the card board falls on the prism A (Figure 11).

2. White light splits into seven colours by prism A is made to fall on another glass prism
B placed with its base upward. Since prism A disperses white light, so it is known as
dispersing prism.
3. The prism B deviates colours of light towards its base. The various colours recombine
at the opposite lace of glass prism B.
4. This activity was initially performed by the great scientist Issac Newton.
The light received on the white screen placed in front of prism B is white. Since the
prism B recombines the colours of light to produce white light, so glass prism B is
known as recombination prism.

25. How did Newton, using two identical glass prisms, show that white light is made of seven
colours?
Answer:
Investigate dispersion of white light in a glass prism

1. Place a thick card board having a small hole in it in front of a glass prism.
2. Allow sunlight to fall on the card board. The hole in the card board allows a beam of
white light to fall on the prism.
3. Place a white screen at some distance away from the prism.
4. Rotate the prism slowly until a band of seven colour is figure 9 observed on the white
screen.
 Conclusion: “When a beam of white light falls on a glass prism, white light splits into its
constituent colours (i.e., seven colours). This phenomenon of splitting white light into
seven colours by a glass prism is known as dispersion of white light.

26. Draw a ray diagram to show the path of a narrow beam of white light, through a
combination of two identical prisms arranged together in inverted position with respect to
each other, when it is allowed to fall obliquely on one of the faces of the first prism of the
combination.
Answer:

27. Why do we observe the seven colours when white light passes through a glass prism?
Which component of white light deviates the least?
Answer:
White light is a mixture of seven colours. The speed of different colours of white light is
different in glass. So, when white light passes through a glass prism, it splits into seven
colours. Red colour deviates the least.
28. (i) Show formation of rainbow with the help of a ray diagram.
(ii) What are the conditions to observe rainbow?
Answer:
(i)

(ii) Rainbow is observed during or after rainfall provided the sun is at the back of the
observer.
29. On a sunny day, stand at a certain distance from a fountain of a water such that the
position of the sun is at your back. What do you observe? Explain the reason of your
observation.
Answer:
 We observe a rainbow. The droplets of water behave as glass prisms. When sun light falls
on these drops, dispersion of light takes place. Hence, rainbow is seen.
30. Why do we see a rainbow in the sky only after rainfall?
Answer:
You must have seen a beautiful rainbow in the sky after rainfall. This rainbow is formed
due to the dispersion of sunlight.
When sunlight falls on the water drops suspended in the atmosphere after rainfall,
rainbow is formed due to the dispersion of sun light. The water drops suspended in air (or
atmosphere) act as prisms.
Rainbow is the example of dispersion of sunlight. The formation of rainbow after rainfall
is shown in figure 12.

Rainbow is observed during a rainfall or after the rainfall or when we look at a water
fountain provided the sun is at the back of the observer.
Conditions for Observing a Rainbow
When sunlight falls on a water drop suspended in air, then the sunlight is refracted. The
refracted sunlight splits (or dispersed) into its constituent colours (i.e., seven colours).
Thus, water drop suspended in air behaves as a glass prism. The red colour deviates the
least and the violet colour deviates the most. Different colours of refracted sunlight fall on
the opposite face of the water drop. Now, each colour suffers internal reflection. The
reflected colours on reaching the lower surface of water drop are refracted again into the
air. Thus, we get a spectrum of seven colours, which is known as a rainbow.
31. Describe atmospheric refraction. Explain with the help of diagram why the sun is visible
to us two minutes before the actual sun-rise and two minutes even after the sunset.
Answer:
The refraction of light takes place, when light travels from one medium to another
medium. In other words, refraction of light takes place, when light goes from an optically
rarer medium to an optical denser medium or vice-versa. The earth’s atmosphere has air
all around. The air in the atmosphere is in the form of layers. The different layers of air
have different densities. As we go higher and higher, the density of the layers of air goes
on decreasing. Thus, the layers of air close to the surface of the earth have more density
than the density of the air layers far away from the surface of the earth. Therefore, the
layers of air close to the surface of the earth behave as optically denser medium and the
layers of air far away from the surface of the earth behave as optically rarer medium.
When sun light enters the earth’s atmosphere, it continuously goes from rarer to the
denser medium and hence refraction of light takes place. The refraction of light taking
place in the atmosphere is known as atmospheric refraction.

32. We can see the sun for few minutes even after it has actually set. Explain, why?
                                                                  Or
 Explain with the help of diagram why the sun is visible to us two minutes before the
actual sun-rise and two minutes after the sunset.
Answer:
We can see the sun for few minutes even after it has actually set
Actual sun sets when it is below the horizon in the evening. The rays of light from the sun
below the horizon reach our eyes because of refraction of light through atmosphere.
These rays appear to come from the apparent position of the sun which is above the
horizon as shown in figure 14.

Hence we can see the sun for few minutes (about 2 minutes) even after it has actually set.
Similarly, the sun can be seen about 2 minutes before it actually rises. Thus, we gain
about 4 minutes of additional daylight each day.
33. Why does the sun appear oval at sunset and sunrise but appears circular at noon?
Answer:
The sun appears oval (or flattened) at sunset and sunrise but appears circular at noon
At sunset and sunrise, the sun is near the horizon. The rays of light from the upper and
lower edge of the sun bend unequally while travelling through the atmosphere. As a result
of this phenomenon, the sun appears oval or flattened (Figure 15).

At noon, the sun is overhead. The rays of light from the sun enter the atmosphere
normally and hence they do not bend at all while passing through the atmosphere.
Therefore, the sun appears circular at noon.
34. Why is the colour of clear sky blue? Explain.
                                            Or
Why does sky look blue on a clear day?
Answer:
When sunlight enters the earth’s atmosphere, the atoms or molecules of the gases present
in the atmosphere scatter this light. Since wavelength of red colour is larger than the
wavelengths of other colours in sunlight, so red colour is scattered least. Violet colour is
scattered the most followed by blue, green, yellow, orange and red colours respectively.
Our eye is more sensitive to the blue light than the violet light. Therefore, scattered light
in the sky contains blue colour in plenty and hence the clear sky appears blue.
Note: Sky appears greyish over cities having industrial units. The smoke and dust
particles in the atmosphere over such cities scatter red, orange and yellow colours more
than other colours of small wavelengths. Hence, the sky appears greyish.
35. Why are stop signals on roads in red coloured light?
Answer:
When light falls on the signal, all colours are scattered much more than that of red colour.
So, the red colour suffering least scattering remains confined around the signal, which in
turn illuminates the signal significantly. Thus, the danger signals can be seen from very
far off distances. Moreover, among all colours, red colour or red light is scattered least by
smoke or fog. Hence, red signals are visible even through the smoke or fog.
36. What would have been the colour of sky if the earth had no atmosphere? Give reason for
your answer.
Answer:
If the earth had no atmosphere, the colour of the sky would have been dark. The colour of
sky depends on the scattering the sunlight due to the atmosphere. No atmosphere means
no scattering of light.
37. State the difference in colours of the sun observed during sunrise/sunset and noon. Give
explanation for each.

Answer:
The colour of the sun observed during sunrise/sunset is reddish, while its colour observed
at noon is white. At sunrise/sunset, the sun is very far away from the observer. So, the
sunlight travels longer distance through the atmosphere to reach the eyes of the observer.
The scattering of blue light is more than the scattering of red light. So, more red light
reaches our eye and hence sun appears reddish.
During noon the sun is overhead and light from the sun travels less distance through air to
reach our eye. In this case, scattering of all colours is very small. Hence, the sun appears
white