THE HUMAN EYE AND THE COLOURFUL WORLD
Class 10 Science The Human Eye and the Colourful World Important Questions with Answers are designed for students preparing for their CBSE Class 10 Science Pre-Board and Board Exams. This comprehensive question bank covers the most important concepts from the chapter including the human eye, power of accommodation, near point, far point, defects of vision, myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia, corrective lenses, prism, dispersion of light, rainbow formation, atmospheric refraction, twinkling of stars, scattering of light and Tyndall effect.
Practise these Class 10 Science important questions, numerical problems, MCQs and case-based questions for effective Board Exam revision.
MUST DO
Working of Human Eye • Accommodation • Myopia • Hypermetropia • Presbyopia
VERY IMPORTANT
Prism • Dispersion • Rainbow • Atmospheric Refraction • Scattering
PRACTICE
Lens Numericals • MCQs • Case-Based Questions • Board Questions
Working of the Human Eye – Learn the complete process: Light → Cornea → Pupil → Eye Lens → Retina → Optic Nerve → Brain.
1. The Human Eye – Important Questions
Q1. Why is the human eye compared with a camera?
Q2. What is the function of the cornea?
Q3. What is the function of the iris and pupil?
Q4. What is the function of the retina?
Q5. What type of image is formed on the retina?
2. Working of the Human Eye – 5 Marks
Q6. Explain the working of the human eye. How does the human eye enable us to see objects?
The human eye is a sensitive sense organ that enables us to see objects and colours around us. It works somewhat like a camera. The main steps involved in the working of the human eye are:
- Entry of light: Light from an object enters the eye through the transparent cornea.
- Control of light: The iris controls the size of the pupil. The pupil regulates the amount of light entering the eye.
- Refraction and focusing: Most of the refraction of light entering the eye occurs at the outer surface of the cornea. The crystalline eye lens provides the finer adjustment of focal length needed to focus objects at different distances.
- Formation of image: The eye lens forms an inverted real image of the object on the light-sensitive retina.
- Conversion into electrical signals: The light-sensitive cells present in the retina are activated when light falls on them and generate electrical signals.
- Transmission to the brain: These electrical signals are carried to the brain through the optic nerve.
- Perception: The brain processes and interprets these signals, enabling us to perceive the object.
Conclusion: Thus, the human eye receives light, focuses it on the retina, converts the light information into electrical signals and sends these signals to the brain, which enables us to see objects.
Q7. Write the functions of the main parts of the human eye.
| Part | Function |
|---|---|
| Cornea | Allows light to enter and provides most of the initial refraction. |
| Iris | Controls the size of the pupil. |
| Pupil | Regulates the amount of light entering the eye. |
| Eye Lens | Focuses light on the retina. |
| Retina | Receives the image and contains light-sensitive cells. |
| Optic Nerve | Carries electrical signals from the retina to the brain. |
3. Power of Accommodation
Q8. What is meant by the power of accommodation of the eye?
Q9. How does the eye see a distant object clearly?
Q10. How does the eye focus on a nearby object?
Q11. What is the least distance of distinct vision?
For a young adult with normal vision, it is approximately 25 cm.
Q12. What is the far point of a normal eye?
Q13. Why can a normal eye not see clearly an object placed closer than 25 cm?
Q14. What is cataract?
4. Defects of Vision and Their Correction
Q15. Name the three common refractive defects of vision.
- Myopia or near-sightedness
- Hypermetropia or far-sightedness
- Presbyopia
Q16. What is myopia? How is it corrected?
In a myopic eye, the image of a distant object is formed in front of the retina.
Myopia is corrected using a concave lens of suitable power.
Q17. What are the causes of myopia?
- Excessive curvature of the eye lens.
- Elongation of the eyeball.
Q18. What is hypermetropia? How is it corrected?
It is corrected using a convex lens of appropriate power.
Q19. What are the causes of hypermetropia?
- The focal length of the eye lens is too long.
- The eyeball has become too small.
Q20. What is presbyopia?
Q21. Why do some people require bifocal lenses?
The upper portion generally consists of a concave lens for distant vision, while the lower portion consists of a convex lens for near vision.
| Defect | Vision Affected | Image Formation | Correction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myopia | Distant objects are not clear | In front of retina | Concave lens |
| Hypermetropia | Nearby objects are not clear | Behind retina | Convex lens |
| Presbyopia | Difficulty seeing nearby objects due to ageing | Reduced accommodation | Suitable corrective lenses |
5. Important Numerical Questions
Q22. A person needs a lens of power –5.5 D for correcting distant vision. What is its focal length?
P = –5.5 D
Therefore:
f = 1/(–5.5)
f ≈ –0.182 m
The negative sign indicates a concave lens.
Q23. A person needs a lens of power +1.5 D for correcting near vision. Find its focal length.
f = 1/1.5
f = 0.667 m
The positive sign indicates a convex lens.
Q24. The far point of a myopic person is 80 cm in front of the eye. Find the nature and power of the corrective lens.
v = –80 cm = –0.80 m
P = 1/(–0.80)
P = –1.25 D
Q25. The near point of a hypermetropic eye is 1 m. Find the power of the corrective lens required if the near point of a normal eye is 25 cm.
v = –1 m
1/f = 3
P = +3 D
6. Refraction of Light Through a Prism
Q26. What is a triangular glass prism?
Q27. What is the angle of a prism?
Q28. What is the angle of deviation?
Q29. What happens when light travels from air into glass through a prism?
When it travels from glass to air at the second surface, it bends away from the normal.
7. Dispersion of White Light
Q30. What is dispersion of light?
Q31. Name the seven colours of the spectrum.
Q32. Which colour of light deviates the most through a glass prism?
Q33. Which colour of light deviates the least through a glass prism?
Q34. Why does a prism split white light into seven colours?
Q35. What is a spectrum?
8. Rainbow Formation
Q36. What is a rainbow?
Q37. How is a rainbow formed?
The different colours then reach the observer's eye and form a rainbow.
Q38. In which direction is a rainbow generally formed?
9. Atmospheric Refraction
Q39. What is atmospheric refraction?
Q40. Why do stars twinkle?
Starlight passes through layers of the atmosphere having continuously changing refractive index. The apparent position and brightness of the star keep changing slightly, causing the twinkling effect.
Q41. Why do planets not twinkle?
Q42. Why is the Sun visible about two minutes before actual sunrise?
Q43. Why is the Sun visible for about two minutes after actual sunset?
10. Scattering of Light and Tyndall Effect
Q44. What is scattering of light?
Q45. What is the Tyndall effect?
Q46. Give one example of the Tyndall effect.
Q47. Why is the clear sky blue?
Hence, the clear sky appears blue.
Q48. Why are danger signals red?
Q49. Why would the sky appear dark to an astronaut at very high altitude?
11. Important MCQs for Board Exam
(B) Presbyopia
(C) Accommodation
(D) Hypermetropia
✔ Answer: (C) Accommodation
(B) Iris
(C) Pupil
(D) Retina
✔ Answer: (D) Retina
(B) 2.5 cm
(C) 25 cm
(D) 2.5 m
✔ Answer: (C) 25 cm
(B) Pupil
(C) Ciliary muscles
(D) Iris
✔ Answer: (C) Ciliary muscles
(B) Concave lens
(C) Cylindrical lens only
(D) Plane glass
✔ Answer: (B) Concave lens
(B) Convex lens
(C) Plane mirror
(D) Prism only
✔ Answer: (B) Convex lens
(B) Yellow
(C) Green
(D) Violet
✔ Answer: (D) Violet
(B) Blue
(C) Red
(D) Green
✔ Answer: (C) Red
(B) Atmospheric refraction
(C) Reflection
(D) Total internal reflection
✔ Answer: (B) Atmospheric refraction
(B) Refraction
(C) Scattering of light
(D) Dispersion
✔ Answer: (C) Scattering of light
12. Case-Based Questions
Case Study 1 – Defects of Vision
A student sitting at the back of a classroom is unable to read the writing on the blackboard clearly. However, the student can read a book held close to the eyes comfortably.
(a) Which defect of vision is indicated?
(b) Where is the image formed in this defect?
(c) Which type of lens is used for correction?
(a) Myopia.
(b) In front of the retina.
(c) Concave lens.
Case Study 2 – Dispersion and Rainbow
A narrow beam of white sunlight is passed through a glass prism and a coloured band appears on a screen.
(a) What is this phenomenon called?
(b) Name the seven colours obtained.
(c) Which colour deviates the most?
(d) Which colour deviates the least?
(a) Dispersion of white light.
(b) Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red.
(c) Violet.
(d) Red.
Case Study 3 – Atmospheric Refraction
A person observes that stars appear to flicker at night, while planets generally do not show the same effect.
(a) Why do stars twinkle?
(b) Why do planets generally not twinkle?
(c) Name the phenomenon responsible.
(a) Due to atmospheric refraction of starlight.
(b) Planets are extended sources and variations from different parts tend to average out.
(c) Atmospheric refraction.
⚡ Quick Revision – The Human Eye and the Colourful World
- Working of Human Eye: Light → Cornea → Pupil → Eye Lens → Retina → Optic Nerve → Brain.
- Accommodation: Ability of the eye to adjust its focal length.
- Near point: About 25 cm for a young adult with normal vision.
- Far point: Infinity for a normal eye.
- Myopia: Near-sightedness; corrected using a concave lens.
- Hypermetropia: Far-sightedness; corrected using a convex lens.
- Presbyopia: Reduced accommodation with ageing.
- Dispersion: Splitting of white light into its component colours.
- VIBGYOR: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red.
- Most deviation: Violet.
- Least deviation: Red.
- Rainbow: Natural spectrum formed due to dispersion, internal reflection and refraction of sunlight by water droplets.
- Twinkling of stars: Atmospheric refraction.
- Blue sky: Scattering of light.
- Tyndall effect: Scattering of light by colloidal particles.
- Danger signals: Red because red light is scattered least.
13. Class 10 Board Exam Final Checklist
- ✔ Learn the structure and functions of the human eye.
- ✔ Prepare the Working of Human Eye – 5 Marks answer.
- ✔ Learn the complete sequence: Cornea → Pupil → Lens → Retina → Optic Nerve → Brain.
- ✔ Understand the power of accommodation.
- ✔ Remember near point = 25 cm for a normal young adult.
- ✔ Learn the difference between myopia and hypermetropia.
- ✔ Remember: Myopia → Concave lens.
- ✔ Remember: Hypermetropia → Convex lens.
- ✔ Practise lens-power numericals.
- ✔ Learn the VIBGYOR sequence.
- ✔ Remember violet deviates most and red least.
- ✔ Learn the complete process of rainbow formation.
- ✔ Understand atmospheric refraction.
- ✔ Prepare why stars twinkle and planets generally do not.
- ✔ Learn why the sky appears blue.
- ✔ Revise Tyndall effect and its examples.
14. How to Prepare This Chapter for the Board Exam
- First prepare the Working of the Human Eye – 5 Marks thoroughly.
- Learn the human eye diagram and functions of its parts.
- Practise the three defects of vision using the comparison table.
- Solve at least 3–5 lens-power numerical problems.
- Learn the VIBGYOR sequence and deviation of colours.
- Practise questions on rainbow formation and atmospheric refraction.
- Revise the reasons behind the blue sky, red danger signals, twinkling stars and non-twinkling planets.
- Finally, attempt MCQs and case-based questions without looking at the answers.
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