The human eye and the colourful world by www.Examfear.

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Well, we talk about so many things like light, reflection of light, refraction of light and so on.. Did we give a thought about what enables us see this beautiful world around us?? Of course, we all know that, our eyes enables us to see..But whats the mystery behind the eye that makes us see.. Lets now discuss in detail the structure and the functioning of the human eye. Lets discuss the structure of the human eye. To start with it, let us discuss the main parts which form the eye, and their functions: 1. Cornea : Cornea is the outermost thin membrane of the eye through which light enters the eye. 2. Epithelium: A thin layer which protects the cornea and heals very quickly when disturbed. 3. Pupil: The black circular area at the centre of the eye that regulates and controls the amount of light entering the eye. 4. Iris: Iris is a dark, muscular diaphragm like structure present behind the cornea that controls the size of the pupil. 5. Retina: Retina is the film of the eye. It is a membrane on the inner wall of the eye. It transforms the light entering into the eye into images that are directly transferred to the brain through the optic nerve. 6. Sclera: Sclera is the outer white coat that protects the eye. 7. Lens: Lens is a colorless, almost transparent, double convex structure which focuses the light rays onto the retina.

Now, that we saw the different parts of the eye, lets see how does the eye function? When light falls on the eye, it enters the eye through the thin cornea. Most of the refraction of the light rays occur at the outer surface of the cornea. The lens provides the required adjustment to focus objects at different distances on the retina. As already told, pupil controls the amount of light entering the eye, and iris , in turn controls the size of the pupil. The lens forms a real and inverted image. Now, the question is then how is it that we able to see things as it is???? Well, the real and inverted image is formed at retina. Now, retina contains a n. of light sensitive cells termed as rods & cones. These cells get activated during illumination and generate electrical signals. These electrical signals are sent to the brain via optic nerve. The brain, then intercepts the signals and enables us to see the image as they ctually are.

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Lets quickly review the functioning again.

1. Light falls on the eye, it enters the eye through the thin cornea. 2. Most of the refraction of the light rays occurs at the outer surface of the cornea. 3. The lens provides the required adjustment to focus objects at different distances on the retina. 4. Pupil controls the amount of light entering the eye, and iris , in turn controls the size of the pupil. 5. The lens forms a real and inverted image. 6. Now, retina contains a no. of light sensitive cells termed as rods & cones. These cells get activated during illumination and generate electrical signals. 7. These electrical signals are sent to the brain via optic nerve. 8. The brain intercepts the signals and enables us to see the image as they actually are. Variation in the focal length of the eye lens with the distances of the objects. Lets now discuss and understand in detail how the focal length of the eye lens changes as the position of the object changes. The curvature of the lens can be modified by the ciliary muscles. As we can see, a change in curvature will in turn cause a change in the focal length of the lens. Look at it carefully: When the ciliary muscles are relaxed, the lens becomes thin. Hence, the focal length increases. As a result, we can clearly see distant objects. Similarly, when we look at objects quite closer, the ciliary muscles contract, the lens becomes thicker. Therefore, the focal length decreases, and we can clearly see the closer objects. Take a book and bring it very close to your eyes, and then try to read. Are you able to read?? No. That is because the focal length cannot be decreased below a certain limit. Therefore, we cannot see at a distance closer than the minimum limit. Here, we will define 2 more new terms: 1. Near point of the eye: The minimum distance at which objects can be seen clearly, without any strain is termed as the near pint of the eye. It is also kwn as least distance of distinct vision.

2. Far point of the eye: The farthest point up to which we can clearly see the objects is termed as the far point of the eye. Note: For a normal adult, the near point of the eye is 25cm from the eyes and the far point is infinity. This means that we see things clearly between 25cm till infinity. Defects of vision: Defect of vision refers to the vision getting blurred due to refractive defects of the eye. There are mainly three defects of vision: 1. Myopia/near sightedness

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2. Hypermetropia/ far sightedness 3. Presbyopia

Myopia: So..What is myopia?? Myopia is the defect of vision where a person can clearly see the nearby objects but can not see the distant objects distinctly. For a myopic person, the far point is closer than infinity. Causes of Myopia: Myopia may be caused due to any of the following reasons: a. Excessive curvature of the eye lens b. Eyeball elongation.

Correction for Myopia:Myopia can be corrected by using a concave lens of suitable power. As we can see here, that with the use of the concave lens, the image of an object at infinity is formed on the retina.

Hypermetropia: Hypermetropia is the defect of vision where a person can see the distant objects clearly but can not clearly see the nearby objects. For a hypermetropic person: i.the near point is closer than 25 cm from the eyes ii. The image is for med behind the retina.

Causes: This defect may be caused because of any of the following reasons: a. Focal length of the lens is very small. b. The eyeball is too small. Correction: Hypermetropia can be corrected by using a convex lens of suitable power. Just see, how the rays from an object at infinity forms the image on the retina, when the convex lens is used.

Presbyopia:

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Lets know what is presbyopiaPresbyopia is a defect of vision which usually occurs with ageing. The near point gradually recedes away, as a result it becomes ifficult to see closer objects. Causes: Presbyopia is caused due to weakening of the ciliary muscles and the reduced flexbility of the eye lens. Correction:This defect can be corrected using a lens of suitable power. Well, what if a person suffers from both myopia and hypermetropia?? Well, in that case the person will have to use a bi-focal lens consisting of both concave and convex lenses. The upper portion is the concave lens, which corrects distant vision and the lower portion being convex lens for the near vision.

Refraction of light through a prism: Before discussing this in detail, lets know what is a prism??

A prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light, comprising of 2 triangular bases and 3 rectanguler lateral surfaces; the lateral surfaces being inclined to each other. This angle between the lateral faces is termed as the angle of prism.Now, we will focus on how refraction of light takes place through a prism. Before we start, quickly recollect few rules of refraction in your mind.

1. A ray of light passing from a rarer to a denser medium bends towards the normal to the surface. 2. A ray of light passing from a denser to a rarer medium after refraction bends away from the normal. Now, lets see how does refraction occur for a prism. Lets first point out the normals to the surface. N1 is the normal to the 1st surface, N2 ,the normal to the 2nd surface. A ray ,I is incident to the prism through surface 1, after refraction bends towards the normal. The refracted ray, R then travels straight through the prism (glass) ; again undergoes refraction on the 2nd surface, and bends away from the normal, wnd goes out of the prism, E. Thus, I is the incident ray. R: refracted ray E: emergent ray. Also let us look at the angles. The angle between the incident/ refracted/emergent ray and the respective normals to the surface is termed as the angles of incidence/refraction/emergence. Thus, here..<I :angle of incidence <r = angle of refraction <e= angle of emergence .Another angle that comes into picture here is the angle of deviation. So, what is the angle of deviation?? Angle of deviation is the angle by which the emergent ray bends with respect to the incident ray. Lets look at it:This is the direction of the incident ray, and this is the direction of the emergent ray.Thus, <d is the angle of deviation.

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Well,now that we have already studied refraction of light through a glass slab in the previous lesson and the refraction of light through a prism just now, lets just try to compare the two. What is the difference between the refraction through a prism and that through a glass slab?? Well, in case of a glass slab, the emergent ray emerges out in a direction parallel to the incident ray. Whereas, in case of a prism, the emergent ray emerges out at an angle (i.e. angle of deviation) to the incident ray.

Dispersion of white light by a glass prism. The white light, the sunlight which we normally see around us actually consists of seven different colours!!

Surprising !! Isnt it? But this is the fact. Now, lets discuss and see what proves this fact, and how does this happen??

When a ray of light is passed through a prism, it is found that a band of seven different colours emerge out from the other end of the prism. On close observation, it is found that the colours seen are Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red; i.e. VIBGYOR, the rainbow colours. The question here is from where does these seven colours emerge out of the prism? Lets look into this in detail. Different colours of light bend through different angles during refraction, depending upon their wavelengths. Red colour, with maximum wavelength bends the least; similarly, violet with minimum wavelength bends the most. Therefore, rays of light of each colour bend through different angles and take different paths after refraction. So, they are al seen distinctly. Lets define the term dispersion now. The phenomenon of splitting of light into its constituent seven colours is known as dispersion of light. And the band of coloured components of the light beam is termed as the spectrum. How is a rainbow formed? After discussing the dispersion of light through a prism, the first example that should be discussed is the formation of rainbow. All of us must have seen the beautiful rainbow n the sky after a rain shower. What makes it happen???? Page Well, this band of seven colours is formed by dispersion of sunlight by tiny water droplets. So, here, the tiny

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water droplets perform a function similar to that performed by the prism. These droplets refract and disperse the incident sunrays, then reflect it internally, finally refract it when it comes out of the droplet. Due to the internal reflection and dispersion of light, various colours reach our eye, and we see the beautiful rainbow opposite to the direction of the Sun. Atmospheric Refraction: Atmospheric refraction refers to the refraction of light by the earths atmosphere. The atmosphere consists of several layers of air; also we now that hotter air s less denser than the cooler air above and hence has a refractive index lesser than that of the cooler air. As a result of this difference in refractive indices, the phenomenon of refraction takes place when light passes through different layers of air in the atmosphere. As a result of this atmospheric refraction , the apparent position of an object when seen through the atmosphere fluctuates.

Twinkling of stars would be an appropriate example for this; we already discussed it in detail in the previous lesson. Try to recollect the same. We already got to know, what makes the stars twinkle Did we ever think, why dont the planets twinkle?? Stars are like pinpoints; each Display planets scenario single stream of starlight is (discussion based) forced by the atmosphere to zig zag this way and that., so they appear to twinkle.Whereas, A planet is comparatively larger in size and can be considered as a collection of a large number of point sized sources of light. So, while the light from one edge of the planet be forced to zig by the earths atmosphere; light from the opposite edge might zag in the opposite way. Thus, the variation in the amount of light entering our eye from all the point sources will average out to zero, thus nullifying the twinkling effect. Lets consider another interesting phenomenon.Did you know that we are able to se e the sun about 2 mins before Display animated sunrise, the sunrise and 2 mins after the sunset sunset. Surprised?? But this is true.

Sunrise or sunset is determined by the crossing of the horizon by the sun. The apparen t position of the sun appears different than the actual one due to the atmospheric refraction. As a result, we are able to see the see even after the actual sunset. Because what we see is the apparent position. Scattering of Light: We will now discuss another term i.e. Scattering of light. What do we understand by Scattering of light? Well, in simple words, the spreading of light by particles in a mixture is termed as the scattering of light. Lets understand the phenomenon relating air as a mixture here. Air is a mixture of several gases and minute particles of different shapes & sizes. The fine particles, smaller in size than the wavelength of the visible region of light scatter mainly the shorter wavelength blue region of the light.

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Tyndall Effect. :Tyndall effect refers to the phenomenon of scattering of light by colloidal particles.

But, what are colloidal particles? Colloidal particles are the particles in a fine suspension. Let us understand this effect taking a practical example. Look at it very carefully.. We have a tumbler of water,when light is passed through it, its pathis not visible to us. Now, we added some chalk powder to it. Thus, it became a colloidal mixture now. We pass light through it again, Oh!! Wow!! The path of the light is clearly visible. What made this happen? This happened due to scattering of light by the chalk particles. Similarly, you can also think of the scenario when the sun rays passes through a canopy of a dense forest. In this case the tiny droplets in the mist scatter the sunlight. Now, that we have come to the end of this lesson. Lets relate whatever concepts we studied with day to day phenomenon. What is the colour of the clear sky??? Sounds funny right?? Ofcourse, blue.. But, do you know why?? Or have you ever thought why? Lets understand the reason behind this in depth. When the sunlight passes through the atmosphere, the fine particles in air scatter the blue colour more strongly than red. That is because very fine particles scatter mainly blue light as it has shorter wavelength . Thus, the scattered colour that reaches our eyes is blue. Hence the sky appears blue. From this we can also understand why the sky appears dark to passengers flying at high altitudes, because no prominent scattering occurs at such heights.

Exercise your brain. So, we learnt all about human eye, defects of vision, dispersion of light, scattering of light , Tyndall effect and so on.. So, just try to exercise your brain with this thought and see if you can relate it to whatever we studied so far. Why is it that the Sun is reddish in colour ? I am pretty sure that you would be able to reason it yourself.

Thank You!

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