2

CHAPTER
Human Eye and The
Colourful World

NCERT Corner
1. Calculate the power of the eye-lens of the normal 1 1 −1
eye when it is focused at its (a) far point (infinity) P= = m = +3 dioptres .
f 1
and (b) near point (25 cm from the eye). Assume 3
the distance of the retina from the eye lens to be
2.5 cm. 3. What is meant by the power of accommodation
of the eye?
Ans. (a) 
When the object is at infinity, the image
Ans. Power of accommodation is the ability of the
forms at the focus of the lens (v = f). Hence,
lens of the eye to adjust its focal length to clearly
the focal length, in this case, is 2.5cm. Thus,
focus rays coming from distant as well as from a
the power is
near object on the retina.
1 1 4. A person with a myopic eye cannot see objects
P
= =
= 40 D
f 2.5 × 10−2 m beyond 1.2m distinctly. What should be the type
(b) In this case, the object is 25 cm from the eye of corrective lens used to restore proper vision?
lens, and the image is formed at 2.5 cm from Ans. Concave lenses are used to restore proper vision,
the eye lens. So, u = –25 cm, v = 2.5 cm. Then for an individual with a myopic eye.
1 1 1 1 1 100 100 5. What is the far point and near point of the human
= − = + = + eye with normal vision?
f v u 2.5 cm 25 cm 2.5 m 25 m
  = 40 + 4 = 44 m = 44 D Ans. The near point of the human eye is the minimum
distance of the object from the eye, where it can
2. A man cannot see objects closer than 1 meter be seen distinctly without strain in our eyes. For a
from the eye clearly. What is the power of the person with normal vision, this distance is 25cm.
corrective lens he should use? The far point of the human eye is the maximum
Ans. The near point for the man is 1m from his eye. distance to which the eye can see objects clearly.
For him to see an object placed at the normal The far point of a person with normal vision is
near point, its image should be formed 1m from infinity.
the eye. Here v = –1 m = – 100 cm, u = –25 cm. 6. A student has difficulty in reading the blackboard
1 1 1 −1 1 3 while sitting in the last row. What could be the
= − = + = defect the child is suffering from? How can it be
f v u 100 cm 25 cm 100 cm
corrected?
100 1
or = f = cm m Ans. The student is suffering from short-sightedness
3 3
or myopia. Myopia can be corrected by the
Power of the lens, appropriate use of the concave or diverging lens.
 NCERT Exercise
1. The human eye can focus on objects at different 1
f =
distances by adjusting the focal length of the eye −5.5
lens. This is due to: f = –0.181m
(a) presbyopia (b) accommodation. The focal length of the lens for correcting distant
(c) near-sightedness (d) far-sightedness. vision is – 0.181m.
Ans. (b) The human eye can focus objects at different (ii) Power of the lens used for correcting near vision
distances by adjusting the focal length of the eye
= + 1.5D
lens due to accommodation.
1
2. The human eye forms the image of an object at its: Focal length (f )=
P
(a) cornea (b) iris
1
(c) pupil (d) retina
f = = +0.667m
1.5
Ans. (d) Human eye forms the image of an object at its
The focal length of the lens for correcting near
retina. The retina is the layer of nerve cells lining
vision is 0.667m
the back wall inside the eye. This layer senses the
light and sends signals to the brain. 6. The far point of a myopic person is 80cm in front
of the eye. What is the nature and power of the lens
3. The least distance of distinct vision for a young
required to correct the problem?
adult with normal vision is about
(a) 25m (b) 2.5cm Ans. If a person is suffering from myopia then the image
(c) 25cm (d) 2.5m of a distant object is formed in front of the retina.
So, a concave lens is used to correct this defect of
Ans. (c) The least distance of distinct vision for a young
vision.
adult with normal vision is 25cm.
Here,
4. The change in focal length of an eye lens is caused
by the action of the: Object distance (u) = ∞
(a) pupil (b) retina Image distance (v) = –80cm
(c) ciliary muscles (d) iris Focal length = f
Ans. (c) Changes in the focal length of an eye lens is From the lens formula,
caused by the action of the ciliary muscles.
1 1 1 1 1 1
5. A person needs a lens of power –5.5 dioptres for − = ⇒ − − =
v u f 80 ∞ f
correcting his distant vision. For correcting his near
vision, he needs a lens of power +1.5 dioptre. What 1 1
= −
is the focal length of the lens required for correcting f 80
(i) distant vision, and (ii) near vision?
f = –80cm = –0.8m
Ans. The power (P) of a lens and it's focal length f is Also,
related as 1
Power, P =
1 f (in metres)
Power ( P ) =
f (in meters) 1

P= = −1.25 D
(i) Power of the lenses = –5.5D −0.8
1 Therefore, a concave lens of power –1.25D is
Focal length ( f ) =
P required by the individual to correct his defect.

Human Eye and The Colourful World 9

 7. Make a diagram to show how hypermetropia is is not able to see objects placed closer than 25cm
corrected. The near point of a hypermetropic eye clearly.
is 1m. What is the power of the lens required to 9. What happens to the image distance in the eye when
correct this defect? Assume that the near point of we increase the distance of an object from the eye?
the normal eye is 25cm.
Ans. The image distance always remains the same for
Ans. Hypermetropia is corrected by using a convex
our eyes. The image is formed on the retina even
lens. A convex lens of a suitable power is used
upon increasing the distance of an object from the
to converge the incoming light in such a way that
eye. For this eye, the lens becomes thinner and its
the image is formed on the retina, as shown in the
focal length increases as the object is moved away
following diagram.
from the eye.
10. Why do stars twinkle?

O o΄ Ans. The stars seem to twinkle in the night sky due to

the effects of the Earth's atmosphere. When starlight
enters the atmosphere, it is affected by winds in the
atmosphere and areas with different temperatures
Correction for Hypermetropic Eye and densities. This causes the light from the star to
The convex lens creates a virtual image of a twinkle when seen from the ground.
nearby object (O' in the above figure) at the near 11. Explain why the planets do not twinkle.
point of vision (O) of the individual suffering from
Ans. The planets being closer to the Earth do not appear
hypermetropia.
The person will be able to clearly see the object as point sources of light. The planet covers a small
kept at 25cm (near point of the normal eye), if the circular area in space, when viewed from Earth. So,
image of the object is formed at his near point, even if light from one point in the circular disc is
which is given as 1m. blocked, light from other points reaches our eyes.
Object distance, u = –25cm As the light from the planets are not completely
Image distance, v = –1m = –100cm blocked from our sight and they do not twinkle.
Focal length, f from the lens formula, we have Stars on the other hand are point sized objects and
1 1 1 1 1 1 twinkle by atmospheric refraction of light
− = ⇒ = −
v u f f v u 12. Why does the Sun appear reddish early in the
1 1 1 1 4 −1 morning?
⇒ =
− ⇒ =
f 25 100 f 100 Ans. During sunrise, the light rays coming from the Sun,
is at the horizon and thus light has to travel a greater
100
=f = 33.3cm = 0.33m distance in the earth's atmosphere before reaching
3 our eyes. In this journey, the shorter wavelengths of
Also, lights are scattered out and only longer wavelengths
1 are able to reach our eyes. Since blue colour has
Power, ( P ) =
f ( in metres ) a shorter wavelength and red colour has a longer
1 wavelength, the red colour is able to reach our eyes

P= = +3.0 D
0.33 after the atmospheric scattering of light. Therefore,
Therefore, a convex lens of power +3.0D is required the Sun appears reddish early in the morning.
to correct the defect. 13. Why does the sky appear dark instead of blue to an
8. Why is a normal eye not able to see clearly objects astronaut?
placed closer than 25cm? Ans. The sky appears dark instead of blue to an astronaut
Ans. The ciliary muscles of the human eye are unable to because the scattering of light does not take place
contract beyond a certain limit. So, a normal eye outside the earth’s atmosphere.

10 UDAAN Study Material Class-X PW