///////

fhe Human Eye and

the Colourful World
......................

sasic Concepts
J. The Human Eye: T he human eye
is one of the most val uable an d
sensitive sense organs. Th e main
parLs of th e hum an eye are: corn ea, Lens
....,, ~ ~Ciliary
iris, pupil , ciliary muscles, eye lens, muscles
Aqueous
retin a and opLic ner ve . humour
(i) Cornea: The transparent
Pupil
spherical membrane cove1i ng
Iris - -->,.1,-h.,. J
the front of the eye is known as
Cornea--~~,
cornea.
The light com ing from objects
enters in to eye through cornea. \
The outer surface of corn ea is Optic
Vitreous nerve
bulging out (co nvex in sha pe). humour
Most of th e refracti on of light Retina
rays entering the eye occurs at The Human Eye
the oute r surface ofLhe cornea.
(ii) Iris: The coloured diap hragm between the cornea and the lens is iris. The iris is situated just
behind the corn ea.
(iii) Pupil: The middle point of the iris has a hole, which is called pupil. The pupil ap pears black
because no light is reflected from it.
Jris controls the size of the pupil. The pupil regulates and controls the amount of licrht
t,

entering the eye.

(iv) Eye lens: The eye lens is a transparent cryst_al line le~s (convex in narure), compared of
fibrou s j ell y like mate rial which is _held 111 pos1t1on by_c1hary muscles. T he focal length of ere
lens can be changed by changing 1ts shape by the action of C1 hary muscles.
(v) Retina: T he screen on which th e image is formed by the lens system of human eye is called
retin a. The re tin a is a delicate membra ne havmg enormous number of light sensitive cells
called rods and cones.
. . erted real image of the object on th e retina. The light-sensitive cell
f .ye Iens (orms an 111v .· . . - . . s get
. d ·11 . 1ation and generate elecll ical signals. 1 he I etma sends these sio-nal,
acti vate upon I um11 . h • .1 . . · o s to
· . . . . ,es and gives n se tot e sensauon o v1s1on. In this process 0 f .
the brain via th e optic nei \ ' . . . • • . . . s1gna 1
. . r
transm1ss1on rom opuc n
. erve to bram r.he 111ve1ted image 1s I e-mvertecl to give us O ll I.
usua 1
impression of an erect image. . . . .
. ··t)' of light. Enables us to see Ill cl1111 light, cannot c1·15·t·111 .
(vi) Rods: Res pond to the rntensi gu1sh
between various colours.

347

J
 . hi through a prism
("") Cones1 Reapo d ,,io" of "!s arent refracting medium bounded by two
activated u n_ to _colour by generatin I . lleffl' JII is a tra . ~lined at some angle. The plane surface
th . pon •llummation and g e ectnca! pulses. The Ii ht .. I~ ,'\P 115 rface~ •;ght passes is called the refracting surface
e Optic nerves. The bra· . generate electrical signals h" h g sensitive Cell 511 wll•~ b~tween two ~efracting surfaces is the angle Retractln_g_
that m mterpret th . ' w ,c are sent t I ' pl P~gll
2 A
. ccommodat"
we perceive objects as they
are.
s ese signals and finally processes th ? t >e btain g~t
e Inform . •~
iJl1
11
t.1 e angl as the line of intersecuon of the two surfaces surface
F
len h . ion: The ability of the e at,on iP ris"1•1 ,,here r,-acting edge of the prism. The section of
0 ··
Thgt. '.s called the accommodation /~ lens to see far and near objects by adjust' .
e cd1ary muscl o t e eye.
lo ?f Piued th e reendicular to the refracting edge is called the
•ng •ts E
Relaxation of Tes can modify the curvature of the lens. °"a! ,s c . - perP
.I e pr•S•·· uon of the .
pnsm-
d.istant obiects
c1 iary muscles - lens b
ecomes thm
.
-
. v'prinoP
. al sec Light Newton
isP'' .' oft665
.
by a Prism
discovered _ light
by his experiment with glass prism that white _
increase in focal length (2 5 cm). Abilit
~
J • • 5 011
Contraction of cilia muscle
obiects
:., .
3. The Least Distanc ro· .
ry
. . .
.
s - lens becomes thick - focal length decreases - b·1·
a • •ty lo
y to ,.,
see "••r
1,• D
1
lP t.11e year '
. t) consists
," ·""'1{ ~""" ., •fO • ' " '
1•1"'"' ...,,.,.....
.
..,m
of a mixture of seven colours.
i,uo ' " """"'""" , . , , _ • ""'" ,.,,,.., 0 . .
Th< diU<~•' col••" ob~io<d ,onsti<oW che ,pa,..m oflndden< lighc. Th•
r,~•..m,diuffl
distinctl wi e o . istmct Vision: The mm1mum distance at which objects ca ~k,,own:~d so-obtained, is called spectrum. In case of sunlight, the solar spectrum obtained can
. . y thout Stram. Also called the near point of the eye For youn d In be seen n, col b nbered by th e word "VIBGYOR" formed by the initial letters of the colours (e.g . , V for
v1s1on, D = 25 cm. · g a u ts with o,1
4 . norn, 0111
b,reflltfor jndigo, B for blue, G for Green , Y for Yellow, 0 for Orange and R for Red) .
. (t) Near Point: The closest distance at which the eye can focus clearly is call d al t colours o 1g t , ave merent wavelengths h e n ce having different refractive index.
or least distance of distinct vision. For young adults with normal vis' . e th e near po· ,;otet, f 1· h I d·rc
(. ") F. . . . io n , it 1s abou 2 •n1
11 • a_r Po~nl. The farthest distance at which an object can be seen clear! is t 5 en,_ piffere n . . '
1s mfirnty for a normal eye. Y called far Poin 18· prislll comb1nallOl1S
slab acts as a combmauon . . of two 1denuca
. . l glass prisms. The second prism can be
• • .
5. Range of V1swn: The distance betwee n the near point and th f; · . ·
l. It ;&,"1
A gas
1 5
,o be pI att d.'" , n '""""d
. posmon. . . mpecc w ,he fi~L The
w,ch fi•"
p,i,m ,plies tl,e
. .
v1s1on: For a normal eye, the range of vision is from 25 cm to infLnity.
e ar po m t is called h
t • range or 00
,h•• Ligh' '"'" ,cs ,eoen colou, compo ne ncs. When """ colou, componencs fall on ,he =ond
6. Myopia: The e_ye which cannot see dista nt obj ects clearly is said to suffer from . • fll it recombines to form white~ lig ht.
O' R'
corrected by usmg a concave lens. It is a lso called short-sightedness. myopia. 11 is pris ,
Recombination
7. H!permetropia: The eye which cannot see near obj ect clearly is said to suffer from h
It 1s corrected by a convex lens. ypermetropia_ ~e''g,._,-
\ s
~"'"
8. Presbyopia: The eye which suffers from ~yopia as well as from h ypermetro ia is said
from presbyopia. It 1s corrected by a bi-focal le n s. p 10 suffer
Second
9. Astigmatism: The eye which cannot simultaneously see with th d" ·
. . . . . . . . e same 1st1nctness all ob·
or Imes makrng different mclina u ons 1s said to suffer from astigm atism . It is corrected b iec~ Screen
eyeglasses with cylindrical lenses. Y using
First prism
10. Persistence of Vision: The impressio n o r sensatio n of the image remains o n the · Spectrum
. ~m b
about I/16th ofa second. It 1s ca ll ed persistence of vision. In cin ematograp h y the princi ·
. f .. . . . .
persisten ce o v1s1on 1s used . The seq u ence of su ll pictures taken b y a movie ca mera is projected
1
pe~ I 19- Rainbow
A rainbow is a natural sp ectrum appearin g in th e sky after a rain sh owe r. This is a phe n o menon
on the screen a t a r ate of 24 images or m ore p e r second. The im ages o n the screen appear to due to combined e ffect o f disp e rsion , r e fraction a nd reflection of sunlight b y s ph e rical water
blend or merge s m oo thl y in to one a n oth er. droplets of rain.
11. How do We See Colours: The r etina of our eye h as a la rge r numbe r of lig ht sensitive cells. 20. Phenom eno n du e to Atmosph e ric Refractio n
The cells on the 1·etin a a 1·e of two s h apes-rod shape d a nd co n e sh a p ed . Th e rod shaped eel~ (i) Rising and settin g of s un appears visible even if below the horizon. The ris ing a nd setting
respond to th e intensity o fli g ht. The cone-sh ape d cells o f o u r r e tin a resp o nd to colours. Thus, sun becom es visib le eve n if it is below the horizon due to refraction of li g ht fr o m layers of
cones make co lout· p erce ptio n possible. air near the ea rth ' s surface a nd the length of day is increased by n early 4 minutes due to
12 Colour Blindn ess: The defect of the eye du e to whic h a p e r so n is un able to distinguish between this phen o m e n o n. :?
,.
certain colours, is known as colo ur blindn e ss. Th e co lo ur b lind p e r so ns d o not possess cone :c
cells that respond to ce rtain co lo u1·s. Co lo ur blindn ess is a ge n e ti c di so rd e r wh ich occu rs by
Apparent position
of sun .
C:
3
::,
inheritance. It has not bee n cu r ed so far. m
13. Bees can see objects in ultravio le t li g ht due to some retinal co n es . Th e re tina of a chick has
~
.
::,
c...
mostly cones and only a few rods . So the c hi ck wakes up with su nrise a nd slee ps by the sunset. g.
14. Blindspol: It is a spot o n th e retina nea t· opti ca l n e n ,e whi ch is insens itive to light.
,.
r.
15. Cataract: The crystalline le n s of som e old peo p le be comes h azy o r even o paque due to Lhe 2.
C
• · n o f t I1e e ye · The vision
development of a membrane ove t· it. I t can eve n lead to to ta l loss o f vtst0 s
can be stored after getting surgery don e o n th e eye having cata ract.
e
Real position
of sun
 (ii)~
Positio11
the Star .
~::•tars, Since ti
e Star is sli •e a1inosp1,.,..., l><-
eart1, • IS nor Station glul)· dio.,....,.,, . nds starligh1 I
s atmosphere, a~: bu1
keeps 011 !::~1
~•s ac1uaJ po:::::i;~: 1
~ noi-111 al, th~
,o,vcr of acconuuodalion of Lhc eye?
b . on the retina by
ot st,uionary. , gong slightly. " ' th~ 1>h•;: /:f:.,"'n1 ~::-.....
lld1tio ar,
, 1 if> .. ,c.. ''.''h: }ye
1.0 focus on the ~isl.ant o~iec~ as well_ as _
the nearby obJeC:ion.
11 I· ,~1~ ,i,ili• Yol ;,,cal le ngth or convergmg power of 11.S len• "called acc~mmod as 25 cm and
'ar 1~
L101i1
Why do stars
Twinkle? 11' ·1I• ,:i1tl! th e power ofaccommodaLion which enable• the obJeCU a• close
frc;m ,, fi~ cf1:t'' or•""I eye hn; : focused on its retina.
a !::ilar
fl•;;', , ;nfiui1 y 1.0 ' • e ye c a nno l sec objects beyo nd 1.2 m dis tinctly. Whal should be the
;1!i ,1 ,,•i1h a 111yop1c . . -:,
,crst>'1 rrcct ivc Jens u sed to r estore pro p e r v 1s 1on . b' l at infinity
1
i /I • of ah <" en
~· . l )'PC ·ntlll eye. t 1l C
• far point is infinity. The le ns used should be such Lhal an ° ~ec
Jfl no1virtua l in1ag c at l .2 m .
_41tS· fo fl11 St/:::: _ J _2 ITI , I I , = -oo, f = ?

2 r,10••• I I I
J• Scattering of Lig ht 7 = -;- ,;
.\ '
\~
~hen light falls on vario u I
I I I
directions. This ph e nome ~ typ es o f suspended pa rticles . it is d evia . .
randomly in a/I diren · . o n •s ca lled sca tte ring . Thu s the d .ted fo oon its Path in
7 = -=i-:z- <-=l = - TT
Phenomenon due I ions is ca lle d th e sca u e ring o fli g ht. ' ev1a 11011 of light fro,n ~"do"' i
f= -1 .2 m
(i) Blue Colour o scauenng o f lig ht: Is P•tl .\
or I I I
preferentia ll ;: Sky: As the sunlight p asses thro ugh the atmos . P=7 = ~
blue skyligh/ anere d . So me of th,s sca tte red lig ht reaches th e g~~~:,~ tl'.el b.lue co(o~ .
(") , \\1e1e w _, ,, -5
" White .Colour of Clouds: Th e size o f clo ud . eseell a, = = -0.83D
of the incident light fro m th e s un T l s i s very la rge as co m pa red to the
6
. . . Hence, clouds appe~r white. . , ey sca tte r all wa ve le ng th s o f li ght nea r1 / :aveJengt1, or dive rge nt) le n s o f focal le n gth 1.2 m a nd power - 0 .83 D should be used to restore
n,fo,llJI A concav~ .(
(ur) R d C l
e o our of Danger Signal Lights: Wh e n Ii ht fa lls o n i . )'. prope r v1s1o n . . . . . ;
:::.~ch m o re tha n red .colo ur. So, th e re d colo ur f uffe ring leassf:~~;t;'.'.i,~01~_u rs are scattered . the fa r point a nd n e ar point of the human eye wi th nor m al v1s1o n .
f; uffnd .t he signal which m t urn illumin ates th e sig n a l. T hus sig n a l ca g,b eona1ns confined Q, 3. Whal is al visio n , th e nea r point is abo u t 25 cm and far p oint is infinity. Thus , a normal eye can
a r o distance s. ' n e seen fron, ,., , ,u,s. for nbore•: s clearly th at are b etween 25 cm a nd infinity.
22. C a lc ulation o f i:; IL ~ see o ~
of 1 an d Power of Concave Lens to Correc t Myopia: T he
oca . e n gt' tudent has d ifficulty in reading the blackboard while s ittin g in th e l ast row. What coul d be
co n cave lens require d to co1Tect m yopia is calcula te d by th e le n s fo rmula: foca l lengt1,
I I I
4
Q· · ~ s defect the child is suffering from? How can it be corrected?
-;; - u =7 ,1ns. l ' e child is su ffe rin g fro m m yopia. lt ca n b e corrected by using spectacles containing concave
T 1
,e
In this case , u = co (infinity) lenses.

v = far point o f m yopic p e r son

Knowing the fo cal length, p ower is ca lculated by
~ RT Exercises
1
Q. l The hum an eye can focus objects at different distances by a djustin g t h e foc al length of the eye
p = /(inm )
23. lens. This is due to
Calculatio n o f Focal Leng th a nd Power of Con vex L ens to Co rre ct H yperme tropia:
(a) presbyopia (b) accomm o datio n
Formula used : _!_ - _!_ = _!_ (c) near-sightedness (d) far-s ighte dness
V u I Ans. (b) accommodation .
Take, u. = n orm al n ea r poin t of th e e y e (25 cm) Q. 2. The human eye forms the image of a n obj e ct at its
v = n ea r p o int ofche h ypermetropic e ye . (a) cornea (b) i ris
Knowing.I, p ower is ca/cu/a 1.ed by (c) pupil (d) retina
l Ans. (d) retin a.
P= - --
f(in m )
 I= - 80 rm = -0.8 111
,,r . til'l' H ~ig11 i11dic.1tcs LhaLI the lens is co ncave.
111r ncg,1 I

N,,,,.. rower, 1' = /(in rn) = ~ = - 1.25 D

we Jens or power - 1.25 D is required to correct the problem. .
The cone, . .
a hypermctrop1c
diagram to show how hypermet ropia 1s corrected . The near point of
~
~{ak_c_ 111 _·what is Ithe power of the lens required lo correct this defect? Assume that the near
. 25 cm .
l, .
,re is f the norma eye 1s
point o . .
•permetrop 1c eye 1s corrected by usin g a conrex lens of appropriate foca l length as
The I1)
01- des in front of the eye .
,pecta
· (Normal near point)
Here, 11 = - 25 cm
v = _ 1 m = - l 00 cm
(Near point of defective eye) I
I

J=? :+--- D=25cm -+1

I
I
Using lens formu la, I (a) Hypermetropic eye
I
I
I l 1
Near point of :
-;; - -;;=7 defective eye :
o~·ee:cr== ((l ~ ~etina
1 l 1
Rays from
or -100 - -25 =7 object at eye's
near, point
J I (b) Near point of hypermetropic eye
1 1 I
I
or -100 +25 = 7 I

_ ___
Normal inear pain~
__

-1 +4 --a
or N' - ---N_
7oo= 7 Near point of
defective eye
100
or f = - - = 33.3cm (c) Correction for hypermetropic eye
3
Thus, the convex lens of focal length ,
+ 33.3 cm is required to correct this defect.
Here, f = 33.3 cm == 0.33 m
l
Now' Power P == -f -(111 -
, -m)

l
== - == 3.0D
+0.33
Thus, the convex lens of power + 3.0 Dis required .
Q.8. Why is a normal eye not able to see clearly the objects placed closer than J
25 cm? ,stan ce of ~
Ans. The max imum acco mm odation of a normal eye is reached when the ob
iect is1at ad.
1s m1111mum c
. . ~:;
25 cm from the e)'e. Th e foca l length of the eye lens ca nnot be decreased belol' th.
{
J
ai Y Ya normal
limit. ' an obiect
Thus placed closer than 25 cm (o r very close to eye) cannot be seen de ·I b "::...
0 an o ~eel from "r.
eye. happens to the jmage distance in the eye when we increase the distance f b" 0
~-9. What 0
';;
. 11 ~
. . e .image
,·· .1srt.h., , distance
. imide the C)e. •
, . 1e 1111acre cl . .
Ani. the
TLneeye?. ce bet"•cen eye lens and reuna
d.1stan 1 1 ". •~ta
be changed at ,111.
. I bc1 c,01e,"
1· 1en
. we incre.ise th e c . . • of an ob
istance f nee
...- .. 1
.,, . T. ~ in ,he 11nage c ,sta nce, inside the ere. ' ~ect rom C:
•
-..,.,~ 353

- ., ;.•" J
 A ertion (A) and Reason (R). Ans1a
Th . . . .r ' .ftateme11ts - ss er the
e f ollowrng q11ed10,u co11.u.d 0, tuo. iveri below: le
qurstions sclccti11~ tl,e appropriott' optw1I g pla 11 otion of A.
, d R if tl,e correct ex
(a ) Hot/, A 011d R ore true 011 • t explanation of A.
R . 1wt the correc
(b) Both A a11d Rare true but ,s · ·
(c) A is trne but R isfal.fe.
(d) A is false but R is true. . . ven-colour components by a prism.
. . , . Ii ht is dispersed into its se .
1. Asscrtion(A) · \\ lute g . b d through different angles wnh respe
Different colours of light en . ct lo the
Reason (R) h h a pnsm
.
. 'dent ra)' as they pass t roug II 'd 1 .
JllCI
· g of light by the co 0 1 a particles gives .
. (4) The phenomenon of scattenn rise to
2. Assertion •
Tyndall effect. .
f ttered light depends on the SlZe of the scattering part'ices.
1
Reason (R) The colour o tI1e sea .
. . II e)'e can clearly see all the objects beyond certain minim urn
3. Assertion (A ) A nOJ ma rnman
distance.
The human eye has capacity of adjusting the foca l length of eye lens.
Reason (R)
A rainbow is sometimes seen in the sky in rainy season only when observer's
4. Assertion(A)
back is towards the Sun.
Reason (R) Internal refl ection in the water droplets ca use dispersion and the final raysare
in backward direction.
5. Assertion(A ) : Myopia is the defect of the eye in which on ly nearer objects are seen by the eye.
Reason (R) The eye ball is elongated.
6. Assertion (A) Hypermetropia is the defect of the eye in which only far ther objects are seen.
Reason (R) Hypermetropia is corrected by using converging lens.
7. Assertion (A) : Danger signals are made of red colour.
Reason (R) : Velocity of red light in air is maximum, so signals are visible even in dark.
8. Assertion (A) ; The sky looks dark and black instead of blue in outer space.
Reason (R) No atm osphere containing air in the outer space to scatter sunlight.
Answers
I. (a) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (a) 7. (c) 8. (a)
6. (b)
Explanations of selected Assertion-Reason Questions
. (he
2. (b) effect ,s
Colloidal solution is made up of scattered particles (dust and water) and Tyndall
phenomenon of scaLLerin g by light by colloidal particles . . ing Jigbl
11 6. (b) Jiype
~, . 1.11 wh.1cI1 near o b'~ects appear blu1 ·1·ed due to incorn
u
~ . a con d.1uon
rmetrop1.a 1s
·o
being focused behind Lhe reLina wall.
7. (c)
'.2 Red colour has longer wavelength, is scattered the least by fog or smoke.
~
><
 ,.
r . , 1\\,11 n111scs of hypn nH•l rnpia .
1.,~
I
l· I• (II) ()niii' ray diagr ams show ing (i) a hypc rnu:lr
• dl'vi n •.
thl op lit"II
opic eye and (ii) its corre cti on using suit,11,Jc
fC/JS/~202() (J l /2/1) I

(ti) (I)si,.l. of cyd>all dl'rrc

•
ases
,
dcc:rcascs. + 1/2
(ri) Focal kngth ol eye lens ts too 1011 ~ / Power of eye lcus
1/2
,~•·
(h) t)iagn1111s:

l+l

ll ypcrm ct ropic Eye Corrc c1ccJ f yc

[CBSE Mark ing Scheme 2020 (31/2/1)]
and size of the scatte ring parti cle.
Q.3• (a) State the relati on betw een colou r of scatte red light
throu gh the hot air, fluctu ates or wave rs.
(b) The appar ent posit ion of an objec t, when seen
State the basic cause of this obser vatio n.
s throu gh two ident ical prism s place d as
(c) Complete the path of white light when it passe
shown :

Prism 1 [CBSE 2020 (31/2/1)]

t) or large sized particles scatte r large r
Ans. (a) Small size partic les scatte r short er wavelcngLh (viole 1
wavelength (Red) .
air. 1
(IJ) Due Lo variation in physical condi tion of hot
(c) Diagr ams:
A

Screen

(Spliu ing of wh ite light is essen tial) [CBSE Marking Scheme 2020 (3J/2/l)]
-;,;tn
~
Q. 4, (')1 A perso n 1s · g from both myop ia and hyper metro pia.
· suff:erm
ci.
(a) What kind of lense s can corre ct this defec t ?
. . ~
(b) How are these lense s prepa red ?
ctmg h1s near vision and - 3D for corre cting g
(ii) A perso n need s a lens of powe r + 3D for corre 2'
the lense s requi red to corre ct these
his dista nt visio n. Calcu late the focal lengt hs of
[CBSE 2020(31/3/3)] t-
defec ts. ..,

;_J_67 ~
 Ans.
.. /

- - ··- -
p__~ _!._3 0. . ··----- - -- - --- ----------

4. t - ---- - - ---·-
.__,c: ·- . . ... . . . .... • ... -

·~. t"' ---~~;;,;__;IJJ,~ ~-:=-~-~: :: ::: ~~~~~-

Q. 5. List two causes of presbyop ia. O,aw labelled diagram of a lens used for the conectio, ,ru,;,
of vision.
defectpower [CBSE 2019 (JJ/3/3)]
Ans. The of accommo dation of the eye decreases
with ageing. For most people, the neac point gradually
recedes and the far point comes closer. This defect is
called presbyopi a.

It arises due to the gradual weakenin g of the ciliary ----.-- - Concave lens
(For far away
muscles and diminishi ng flexibility of the eye lens. Such objects)
1e
a person may suffer from myopia and hypermetr opia.
This defect is then corrected by usmg b,-focal lenses IF•~••
. . -;--- ~ Convex ns
of suitable focal lengths. The upper part of the . . while,hei0>«
lens is concave lens which corcects myopia to see the d,stant objects dead~ ea,by obj<ru
part of the lens has convex lens which corrects the hypermetrop1a to see t e n

What is meant by 'pe.-s,sten ce O

Q. 6. dearly. • . . . dnem•b•D
.

d h . f vision'' We ,reableto see the mov,e p>eture m' jHO'fSI

How oes t .is happen'· . e to see the image of. an object for a very sh• nprd,ra,•
od uced
. of the h u man eye to contmu . I nfac, iliesensauoOo
Ans. The ab,.hty . .
l O f that obJect is cailed pecsis,ence of ,,.,on.
on cetioa The
even afterthe remo,a 1 I/ 16" of a second . , hail
. . .
focneac Ye ace able to see mov,e p,ctu,e, m a cmem
1 the .•mage of an°b.Jeet lasts
by f
""
· due "' pecsistence o v,s . ion that w ·ojmed on the scceen at a cate of abom 24 picwres. r· ,>
t_IS d U · the form of a long film e
ar_ pige of one picture persists on the retina of the eyeu a<fl'
d 'cr ·ent un11 b.
S
pictures m .. the ,ma
won. Do,e,o this, the,Jightly d give
. u ,.,
t e·ren ' and
d rthese cond,t,ons , the . me,
image o. t nI1e enex
secon c: II on
. sent on sci
·_ f . t picture
. tures pies
,a h film merge smoothly with one anot 1er an
of the successive pie <l oving images. 1
. ' ty an m
feeling of contmu1
r
n.14• Sts
e the cause of dispersion of whit 1.
·
d t..tical glass pnsms, show that wh"t
v i-"e,,\II the path of a narrow beam of wl
e •1ght by a glass pnsm.
1 e 1ight is m d
. .
· How did Newton using two
a e o seven colours ? Draw a ray' diagram to
f
,..o..,.nged together .m mverted
. posit' ute hght
. ' th rough a combmation
. of two identical prisms
arbliquely
1-
on one o f the faces of the fi•on with
. r espect to each other, when it is allowed to fall
o rst pnsm 0 f th e combination. [CBSE (Al) 2017 (31/l)J

[Topper's Answer 2017]

Q. 15. What is a rainbow? Draw a labelled diagram to show the formation of a rainbow.
[CBSE 2019 (31/1/1)]

Ans. A rainbow is a n atural spectrum appearing in the sky

after a rain. It is produced by dispersion of sunlight by
tiny water droplets, prese nt in the atmosphere. The
water droplets act like small prisms. When a ray of light
r: \ · d ) ·t dergoes refraction
1a ls on water drop (or ram rop 1 un
. . t1. m This spectrum
and d1spers1on to form a spec u ·
. (' ·d the raindrop) and
undergoes internal reflect10n . msi eout of the raindrop.
.
finally refracted again when it comes . h
. h d . ternal reflecuons, t e
After the dispersion of hg tan !11, eye in the form of a
band of colours reaches observers
rainbow. . 't to that of the Sun.
. h direcuon oppos1 e
A rainbow is always forme d 111 t e
 I ' d the baai
~. Iii. Wluat is atn 1os pl, .....
·. . '"ri.c l'<'ftac • t two phe nom ena wh ich can be ex p am e on 9 (J • or
• n ? Lis
• lto
nlt uos ph< •r' I [CBSE 201
1/2/JJ)
ic t'fr act ion . e du e to chan .
A ns, :\t 111ospltnic r .,- .. . . . by the Ea rth 's atm osp t her
ti . . . . . < l,lclrorr-rdra.ctio rr or lig ht
..
cau sed · . . . Je exp arned &e1nI· '
... . ph eno me na wh rch can 0 the
lt rtf ran r\'t :i 11 <,-1« s or d11Jcrt:nt la yer s. f he two
n
. ..
Il,1s1s of at lllo s I • .· - . ac1.1on are ·
· P lt r 1c rdr · d sou rce o_r fig · h O f t h e rays oflight
· h t. Tl. ie p,'.
f . . . · nt size t
(i) Tw ink li distan t poi
. . . r~g o star: Sta rs are tio n slig htl y. Th us appar
s on va ryi ng du e to atm osp hen c ref rac . h n·ickers givien1
Wm1 ng fro m I lie sta r goe e eye n
.
lig ht ent eri ng t
.· .
rs Jlu ctu a les and the am ou nt of sta r g
I)
t os111o n of th e sta
the tll'in klin g e ffec t..
, ligh t rays com ing frorn th
sun ris e: Wh e n the Su n is slig htl y below the ho rizon
(ii) Ad van ced ractio n ofligh~
rer to de nse r lay ers of air. Becau se of a tm osp her ic ref
Su n tra vel fro m the ra us, the Sun appear;
com e fro m a hig her pos itio n abo ve the ho riz on . Th
lig ht app ea rs to
earlie r tha n act ual sun rise .
e an d sun set?
do es atm osp her ic refraction aff ect sun ris
Q. 17 • H ow
OR
to explain.
ris e an d del aye d sun set . Dr aw a lab ell ed d iag ram
sun
Wh at is me ant by advanc e [CBSE (F) 2015, 2017]
ve it. At sun rise and sunset
a ir nea rer to the Ea rth are den ser tha n tho se abo
An s. T h e layers of
wh en the Su n is below
the lig ht rays sta rtin g fro
se lay ers
the h orizon ,
m the Su n
. Th ey p ass
l S'
'\. _. /
L___
- __
:~~~n-
/'~,,--~"\. Apparent position

-- -
Layers
of air
are incide nt o n the
er lay ers and
tl1 rou gh successively d ens J~
mo re tow ard s
tl1us ge e ben t mo re and Eye
on th e eye of
the no rm al unt il the y fa ll up
er, th ese ray s
tl1 e obs erv e1: To th e obs erv
which is abo ve
ap pe ar to com e fro m S'
tha t the Su n
h ori zon . It is for thi s rea son
rises abo ve
is vis ible to us a li ttle bef ore it Rea l position
of Sun
till a li ttle la te r
the ho rizon an d so a lso
T h e dif fe ren ce
it set s below the h o riz on.
eac h for ea rly
of tim e is abo u t 2 mi nu tes
Su n.
ris e a nd lat e set tin g of th e t the position
tio n? Ex pla in wit h the he lp of a labelled diagram tha
Q. 18. What is atmospheric refrac po sit ion .
[CBSE 2019 (31/3/1)]
t its tru e
of a star as see n by us is no
al de nsi ty of the Appare~t
e to th e var iat ion in op tic
,.J,,.
Ans. • Be nd ing of lig ht du I Sta r
Ar star positlOn

me diu m.
ng int o ear th 's atm osp h ere
un de rgo es *
Ray path
• T he sta rlig ht, on e nte ri ½
ore it rea ch es the ear th.
con tin uo us ref rac tio n bef
• Sin ce the atm osp he re ben
ds sta rlig ht tow a r ds th e n
orm al,
m its
j ~ efra ctiv e inde x
1ncr eas1ng

th sta r is slig htly dif fe ren t fro

e app are nt position to the
act ual pos itio n. ½
~
tC Dia gra m I
"
~
i
'-·
[CBSE Ma rki ng Scheme 201,
l/
-:s

'
~