THE HUMAN EYE AND THE
COLOURFUL WORLD
GIST OF THE LESSON
1. The Human Eye:- It is a natural optical instrument which is used to see the objects by
human beings. It is like a camera which has lens and screen system.
(i) Retina: It is a light sensitive screen inside the eye on which image is formed. It
contains rods and cones.
(ii) Cornea: It is a thin membrane which covers the eye ball. It acts like a lens which refracts the
light entering the eye.
(iii) Aqueous humour : It is fluid which fills the space between cornea and eye lens.
(iv) Eye lens : It is a Convex lens made of transparent and flexible jelly like material.
Its curvature can be adjusted with the help of ciliary muscles.
(v) Pupil : It is a hole in the middle of iris through which light enters the eye. It appears black
because light falling on it goes into the eye and does not come back.
(vi) Ciliary muscles : These are the muscles which are attached to eye lens and can modify the shape
of eye lens which leads to the variation in focal lengths.
(vii) Iris : It controls the amount of light entering the eye by changing the size of pupil.
(viii) Optical nerve : These are the nerves which take the image to the brain in the form of
electrical signals.
2. Accommodation power : The ability of eye to change the focal length of eye lens with the help
of ciliary muscles to get the clear view of nearby objects (about 25 cm) and far distant objects (at
infinity).
3. Colour blindness: Some people do not possess some cone cells that respond to certain specific
colours due to genetic disorder.
4. Myopia (Short sightedness) : It is a kind of defect in human eye due to which a person can see
near objects clearly but he cannot see the distant objects clearly. Myopia is due to:
(i) excessive curvature of cornea.
(ii) elongation of eye ball.
5. Hypermetropia (Long sightedness) : It is a kind of defect in human eye due to which a person can
see distant objects properly but cannot see the nearby objects clearly. It happens due to:
(i) Decrease in power of eye lens i.e., increase in focal length of eye lens.
(ii) Shortening of eye ball
6. Presbyopia : It is a kind of defect in human eye which occurs due to ageing. It happens due to
(i) decrease in flexibility of eye lens.
(ii) gradual weakening of ciliary muscles.
7. Astigmatism: It is a kind of defect in human eye due to which a person cannot see
(focus) simultaneously horizontal and vertical lines both.
8. Cataract: Due to the membrane growth over eye lens, the eye lens becomes hazy or
even opaque. This leads to decrease or loss of vision.
The problem is called cataract. It can be corrected only by surgery.
9. Dispersion of white light by a glass prism: The phenomenon of splitting of white light into its
seven constituent colours when it passes through a glass prism is called dispersion of white light.
The various colours seen are Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. The sequence of
colours remembers as VIBGYOR. The band of seven colours is called spectrum.
10. Composition of white light : White light consists of seven colours i.e., violet, indigo, blue,
green, yellow, orange and red.
11. Monochromatic light: Light consisting of single colour or wavelength is
called monochromatic light, e.g., sodium light
12. Polychromatic light: Light consisting of more than two colours or wavelengths is
called polychromatic light, e.g. white light.
13. Recombination of white light : Newton found that when an inverted prism be placed in the path of
dispersed light then after passing through prism, they recombine to form white light.
14. Formation of rainbow: The water droplets act like small prisms. They refract and disperse the
incident sunlight, then reflect it internally, and finally refract it again when it comes out of the
raindrop. Due to the dispersion of light and internal reflection, different colours reach the
observer’s eye.
15. Atmospheric Refraction : The refraction of light caused by the earth’s atmosphere (having air
layers of varying optical densities) is called atmospheric refraction.
Why, the duration of day becomes approximately 4 minutes shorter if there is no atmosphere on
earth: Actual sun rise happens when it is below the horizon in the morning. The rays of light from the sun
below the horizon reach our eyes because of refraction of light. Similarly, the sun can be seen about few
minutes after the actual sun set. Thus the duration of, day time will increase by 4 minutes.
1. Scattering of light: According to Rayleigh’s law of scattering the amount of scattered light α
/(wavelength )4 . So that the wavelength of violet, blue and indigo is small as compared to the rest of
the colours. So sky appears blue in colour
2. Colour of the Sun at sunrise and sunset : At noon, the light of sun travels relatively shorter
distance through earth’s atmosphere thus appears white as only a little of blue and violet colours are
scattered. Near the horizon, most of the blue light and shorter wavelengths are scattered and sun appears
red.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Why is red colour selected for danger signal lights?
2. What is meant by spectrum of white light? How can we recombine the components of white light after
a prism has separated them? Draw a diagram to illustrate it to get white light again.
3. Explain why do the planets not twinkle but the stars twinkle.
4. (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 is it so?
5. Why do different components of white light deviate through different angles when passing through
a triangular glass prism?
6. What will be the colour of the sky, when it is observed from a place in the absence of any atmosphere? Why?
7. The sky appears dark instead of blue to an astronaut. State its reason.
8. Define the term dispersion of white light. State the colour which bends (i) the least and (ii) the most
while passing through a glass prism.
9. What is Tyndall effect?
10. Give an example of optical phenomena which occurs in nature due to atmospheric refraction.
11. Give an example of a phenomenon where Tyndall effect can be observed.
12. Name the type of particles which acts as a prism in the formation of rainbow in the sky.
13. What is the cause of dispersion of white light on passing through a prism?
14. Name the atmospheric phenomenon due to which the sun can be seen above the horizon about two
minutes before actual sunrise.
15. Give reasons:
(i) The extent of deviation of a ray of light on passing through a glass prism depends on its colour.
(ii) Lights of red colour are used for danger signals.
16. A star appears slightly higher (above) than its actual position in the sky. Illustrate it with the help of
a labelled diagram.
17. Draw a ray diagram to show the refraction of light through a glass prism. Mark on it (a) the incident ray. (b)
the emergent ray and (c) the angle of deviation.
18. Which phenomenon is responsible for making the path of light visible?
19. Why does the sun appear reddish at sunrise?
20. A star sometimes appears brighter and some other times fainter. What is this effect called? State the
reason for this effect.
21. What is the colour of the clear sky during day time? Give reason for it.
22. What is a spectrum? Why do different coloured rays deviate differently on passing through a glass prism?
PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS
2014
1. Make a well labeled diagram showing refraction of light through a glass prism and mark the following:
a) Incident ray b) Emergent ray c) Refracted ray
d) Angle of refraction d) Angle of incidence e) Angle of deviation
e) Angle of emergence f) Angle of prism
(5)
i
2. Give reasons for the following :
i) The sky appears to be blue during day time to a person on the earth
ii) The stars appears to twinkle
iii) The planets do not twinkle (3)
A. i)
● The scattering of blue component of the white sunlight by the air molecules present in the
atmosphere causes the blue color of the sky
● The molecules of air and other fine particles in the atmosphere are effective in scattering light of
shorter wavelengths at the blue end. The scattered blue light enters our eyes and the sky appears
blue
ii)
• The twinkling of a star is due to atmospheric refraction of sunlight.
• The continuously changing atmosphere due to the varying optical densities of air
at various altitudes, refracts starlight by different amounts.
• Since stars are very distant objects, the stars are considered to be point-sized sources of light.
• As the path of rays of light coming from star goes on varying, the apparent position
of thestar fluctuates and starlight entering the eye flickers, which causes the
twinkling effect.
iii)
● The planets are much close to the earth and thus seen as extended sources i.e. a collection of
a large number of point sized sources of light
● The total variation in the zero, thereby amount of light entering our eye from all
the individual pointsized sources will average out to nullifying the twinkling effect.
3. Describe an activity along with a well-labelled diagram the phenomenon of dispersion through aprism.(5)
A. Activity
● A thick sheet of cardboard is taken and a narrow slit is made at the middle.
● The sunlight is allowed to fall on the narrow slit. This gives a narrow beam of light.
● Now the light from the slit is allowed to fall on a glass prism
● The prism is turned slowly until the light that comes out of it appears on a nearby screen
● We find a beautiful band of 7 colours of light.
4. Explain in brief the formation of rainbow with the help of a figure.
(3) A.
● A rainbow is formed by dispersion of sunlight by tiny water droplets, present in the atmosphere
● The water droplets act like small prisms
● They retract and disperse the incident sunlight
● Then reflect it internally and finding retract it again when it comes out of the raindrop.
● Due to dispersion of light and internal reflection, different colours reach observer and he can see
the rainbow.
2015
5. What is meant by scattering of light? Use this phenomenon to explain why the clear sky appears blue or
the sun appears reddish at sunrise. (3)
A. Scattering of light means to throw light in various random directions by the minute particles. When a
beam of light strikes such tiny particles, there is a change in direction of propagation of light.
The sun appears reddish at sunrise.
● At sunrise, the sun is near the horizon so sunrays travel a larger atmospheric distance.
● The fine particles of the atmosphere scatter away the smaller wavelength lights
present insunlight.
● Only red color having longer wavelength are least scattered and reaches our eyes.
● Hence, sun appears reddish at sun rise.
2
0
1
6
6. Describe an activity to show that the colours of white light splitted by a glas prism
can be recombined to get white light by another identical glass prism. Also draw ray
diagram to show
recombination of the spectrum of white light.
(
3)
A. Activity :
● A thick sheet of cardboard is taken and a narrow slit is made in its middle
● Sunlight is allowed to fall on the narrow slit – this gives a narrow beam of white light.
● Light from the slit is allowed to fall on a glass prism
● A band of colorus is obtained
● Then place a second identical prism in an inverted position with respect to the first prism
● It is found that a beam of white light emerges from the other side of the second prism.
Fig. Ray diagram to
show recombination of
white light.
7. Draw a ray diagram showing dispersion through a triangular glass prism when a
narrow beam of white light is incident on one of its refracting surfaces. Also
indicate
the order of colours of the spectrum. Why does it take place.
(
5)
A. Ray diagram same as Q. No. 4
The order of colours obtained in a spectrum are violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow,
Orange and Red.
Different colors of light bend through different angles with respect to the incident ray
as they pass through a prism. The red colour bends the least while violet the most as
wavelength of red is more than that of violet colour of light.
8. What is the atmospheric refraction? Use this phenomenon to explain the following
natural events.
a) Twinkling of stars b) Advanced sunrise and delayed sunset
(5)
A. The refraction of light caused by the earth’s atmosphere due to gradual change
in the refractive indices of its different layers by the varying conditions of it is
called the atmospheric refraction.
a) Same as Ans.
3(ii) b)
● The sun is invisible to us about 2minutes before the actual sunrise and 2 minutes
after theactual sunset
because of atmospheric refraction.
● When the sun is slightly below the horizon, the light rays move
through the different layers of varying densities of air and get bent
towards the normal.
● The rays of light appears to come from S’ which is the apparent position of the sun.
20
18
9.
(a) Why do stars twinkle? Explain.
(b) Why does the sun appear reddish early in the morning? Will this phenomenon be observed
by an astronaut on the Moon? Give reason to justify your answer.
a) Stars are very distant and approximately point-sized sources. Path of star light changes
continuously due to gradual changing of refractive index of the layers of earth’s atmosphere.
Thus, the apparent position of the stars fluctuates and the amount of star light entering the eye
flickers giving the twinkling effect.
b) Early in the morning, the sun is near the horizon, sunlight reaches us after travelling a longer
distance through thick layers of atmosphere. Thus, most of the blue light and shorter
wavelength are scattered away by the particles in the atmosphere. The light that reaches us is of
longer wavelengths giving a reddish appearance. This phenomenon will not be observed by an
astronaut on the moon, because of the absence of atmosphere of the moon.
2+3
SAMPLE QUESTIONS BASED ON TERM-I (2021-22)
1. Which incident ray after striking a CONCAVE mirror will pass through the focus?
a) Incident ray travelling through the Centre of curvature.
b) Incident ray striking the pole of the mirror.
c) Incident ray travelling parallel to the principal axis.
d) Incident ray passing through the focus.
2.
How will the refracted ray pass?
a) Through 2F2.
b) Parallel to the principal axis
c) Through F2.
d) Pass without deviation.
3. Which of the following can produce a point size image
i) a concave mirror? ii) a convex mirror?
iii) a concave lens? iv) a convex lens?
a) both i) and ii)
b) both i) and iii)
c) both ii) and iii)
d) both i) and iv)
4. “The speed of light is less in kerosene than in water, it travels even slower through glass”.
Based on the above information arrange the three materials according to their refractive indices in
DESCENDING order.
a) kerosene , water, glass.
b) glass, water, kerosene.
c) water glass kerosene.
d) glass, kerosene, water.
5. Deviation or bending of light through a prism has an inverse relation to its speed in that
medium. Based on the statement and the spectrum produced by a prism, choose the correct
option:
a) red light travels slower than blue light
b) violet light travels faster than blue light.
c) orange light travels faster than yellow light.
d) Green light travels faster than yellow light
6. To get a magnification of more than +1 through a convex lens, of focal length 17.5 cm the
object should be placed at
a) a distance more than 17.5 cm
b) a distance less than 17.5 cm
c) a distance exactly 17.5 cm
d) at a distance of exactly 35 cm
7.
Look at the ray diagram of the prism, observe that the refracted ray is parallel to the base of the
prism. In this condition ‘angle of incidence = angle of emergence’. Which of the following
statement is true?
a) angle of deviation will be minimum
b) angle of deviation will be maximum
c) angle of deviation is related to angle of prism so nothing can be predicted.
d) angle of refraction will be 90O
8.
In the given diagram we see various set ups of
studying refraction through a glass slab, select the
diagram that is most unsuitable to measure lateral
shift through a rectangular glass slab.
a) only diagram II
b) both diagrams II and IV
c) only diagram III
d) only diagram I
9. A: The emergent ray from a rectangular glass slab is parallel to the direction of the incident
ray. R: The extent of bending of the ray of light at the opposite parallel faces, (i.e. at the air-
glass interface and glass-air interface) of the rectangular glass slab is equal and opposite.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
10. The power of a lens is 2.5 D. This statement means:
a) The lens is concave and has a focal length of + 40 cm
b) The lens is convex and has a focal length of + 0.4 m
c) The lens is concave and has a focal length of - 40 cm
d) The lens is convex and has a length of + 4 m
11. The focal length of a mirror is - 22 cm. Where should, the object be placed to obtain an
image that is real and larger than the object?
a) Exactly at 44 cm, from the pole of the mirror.
b) At a distance more than 44 cm from the pole of the mirror.
c) At a distance lesser than 44 cm from the pole of the mirror.
d) Exactly at a distance of 22 cm from the pole of the mirror.
12. A 5 cm tall object is placed perpendicular to the principal axis of a concave mirror of focal
length 20 cm. The distance of the object from the pole of the mirror is 30 cm. What will be the
size of the image?
a) 5 cm and above the principal axis.
b) 15 cm and above the principal axis.
c) 15 cm and below the principal axis.
d) 10 cm and below the principal axis.
13.
In the above picture the lower part of the lens is painted black with an opaque paint. Looking at
the diagram someone concluded:
i) The image of the entire object will be formed.
ii) Image will be of the same size but will be a faint image.
iii) The image formed will never be perpendicular to the principal axis.
iv) The shape of the image will be different than the
object. Which among the above statements are true?
a) Both i) and ii).
b) i), ii) and iii).
c) i), ii) and iv).
d) all of the above.
14.
In the given diagram the light is passing from one transparent medium(M 1) to another
transparent medium (M2)and then into another medium (M3) also that i > r and i = e. The broken
lines indicate the normal at the points of incidence.
What can we definitely conclude from the diagram and the statement?
a) Refractive index of M1 and M3 are the same and M2 is the densest medium.
b) Refractive index of M1 and M3 are the same and M2 is the rarest medium.
c) Refractive index of M1 and M2 are the same and M3 is the densest medium.
d) Refractive index of M2 and M3 are the same and M1 is the rarest medium.
15. What will be the refractive index of glass with respect to air, given that the refractive
index of glass with respect to water is 5/4 and refractive index of water with respect air is 4/3.
a) 3/4
b) 3/5
c) 5/3
d) 4/5
16.
The lens has a focal length of -15 cm and
an object is placed -50 cm away from its
optical centre. Where will the image be
formed and what will be the
characteristics of the image formed?
a) 150 cm away from the optical center,
same side as the object, virtual and
diminished. diminished.
b) -150/13 cm from the optical center, virtual and
c) -50/13 cm from the optical center, virtual and diminished.
d) +50/13 cm away from the optical center, real and inverted.
By experimentation a student obtained the i – d graph. ‘i’ represents angle of incidence and ‘d’
represents the angle of deviation. The ray diagram represents the position corresponding to D
in the graph. Needless to say that D represents the point of minimum deviation.
In the ray diagram i1 represents angle of incidence, i2 represents angle of emergence. r1
represents the angle of refraction.
Carefully consider the above described diagram and the graph to understand the special case it
describes. Now answer the following questions:
17. Looking at the i-d graph we can definitely say that:
a) The angle of deviation is proportional to angle of incidence.
b) With increase in the angle of incidence the angle of deviation decreases initially
then it increases.
c) The angle of deviation is inversely proportional to angle of incidence.
d) The angle of deviation is independent of angle of incidence
18. If a polychromatic light is incident at Q then due to two subsequent refraction:
a) The component colours will recombine
b) The component colours will be segregated but only to a limited extent.
c) The component colours will be segregated even more and form a spectrum.
d) The refractions will have no effect on the light.
19. When the incident light comes from the base side (as shown in the diagram), both the
refraction bends the light towards the base. How can we direct the light so that it bends away
from the base (at least once)?
a) We can use a hollow prism filled with water.
b) We change the material of the prism so that the new material has higher refractive index.
c) If the incident light falls normally on the side of the prism.
d) If the incident ray is directed from the top vertex side of the prism.
20. If an equilateral prism is used in this experiment, and minimum angle of deviation is
obtained when the angle of incidence is 40O, what will be the value of angle of deviation?
a) 20O
b) 30O
c) 40O
d) 50O
21. Which of the following characteristics of a spherical mirror is given by the ratio of the size of
the image to the size of the object?
A. aperture
B. magnification
C. focal length
D. radius of curvature
22. In the diagram shown below, a beam of light is travelling from inside a glass slab to air. Which of the
marked paths will the ray of light take as it emerges from the glass slab?
23. The image below depicts light being split by a prism into different colours.
This was first observed by Isaac Newton. What would this observation help us to
understand?
A. the cause for sunspots
B. how X-rays are formed
C. the cause for rainbows
D. how the Sun produces light
24. An object was placed at the centre of curvature of a concave lens. The image formed by the lens would
be .
E. virtual, erect and same size as the object
F. virtual, erect and smaller than the object
G. real, inverted and larger than the object
D. real, inverted and same size as the object
25. The path of light rays passing through a glass prism is BEST represented by .
A. only P
B. only R
C. either Q or S
D. either P or R
