PHYSICS | Class 10

The Human Eye & Colourful World

HUMAN EYE
Our eye enables us to see this beautiful world. It consists of a lens, which is made up of living tissues.
It acts like a camera, enable us to capture the colourful picture of the surroundings. It forms an inverted, real
image on light sensitive surface Retina.

.
The human eye is roughly spherical in shape with diameter of about 2.3 cm. It consists of a convex lens made
up of living tissues. Hence, human lenses are living organs contrary to the simple optical lenses.

THE VARIOUS PARTS OF EYE AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

Eye: The natural optical device, using which, man could see objects around him. It forms an inverted and real
image on a light sensitive surface called the retina.
Cornea: It is a thin transparent membrane, covering the surface of eyeball, through which light enters. It acts
as a primary lens, which provides the refraction for light rays entering the eye.
Aqueous Humour: It is a transparent gelatinous fluid, secreted from ciliary muscles, fills the space between
cornea and eye lens. It provides nutrition to the eye tissues and increases the protection against dust, wind,
pollen grains, etc. Its job is to keep proper ocular pressure (eye pressure) in the eye.
Iris: It is a dark muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil and is located just behind the cornea in
the eye. It is the coloured part of eye made up of involuntary smooth muscles.
Pupil: The black opening between the aqueous humour and the eye lens. Since, light does not get reflected
from it, so its appearance is dark. The amount of light entering the eye is controlled by the size of the pupil. In
dim light, it opens up completely through the iris, but in bright light, it becomes very small. The pupil regulates
and controls the amount of the light entering the eye.
Ciliary Muscles: The shape of the eye-lens can be modified by the presence of ciliary muscles. This leads to
variation in focal length. When the eye looks at distant object, then the ciliary muscles are relaxed, the focal
length of the lens increases & lens becomes thin. When the eye looks at nearby objects, the ciliary muscles are
contract, the focal length of eye lens decreases but increases its converging power to form an image on the
retina of the eye again. In this case lens becomes thick.
Eye Lens: It is converging in nature, made up of fibrous, jelly like transparent & flexible tissues. The focal length
of eye lens is changed by the ciliary muscles. Its function is to focus incoming light rays on the retina using its
refractive property. The eye lens forms an invented real image of the object on the retina.

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The change in the curvature of the eye lens can thus change its focal length. When the muscles are relaxed, the
lens becomes thin. Thus, its focal length increases. This enables us to see distant objects clearly. When you are
looking at objects closer to the eye, the ciliary muscles contract. This increases the curvature of the eye lens.
The eye lens then becomes thicker. Consequently, the focal length of the eye lens decreases. This enables us to
see nearby objects clearly.

Vitreous Humour: It is a transparent, colourless, gelatinous mass that fills the space between the eye lens and
retina of the eyeball. It helps to keep retina in place by pressing it against the choroid. So, it maintains the
shape of the eye. 99% of it consists of water and the rest is a mixture of collagen, proteins, salts and sugars.
Retina: Retina is a delicate membrane having enormous number of light-sensitive cells on which real, inverted
and diminished image is formed by the crystalline lens of eye. These light receptors are known as rods and
cones. It is equivalent to the photographic film in a camera.
Rods and Cones: The cells in retina, which are light sensitive. Rods respond to the intensity of light. Cones
respond to the illumination. The cones are sensitive to different extent in different primary colours; Red, Blue
and Green. Specialised cones respond to specific colours. There are around 125 million rods and cones cells.
The cells generate electrical signals which are transmitted to the brain through optical nerves.
Blind Spot: The spot on the retina where no receptors are found. The image formed on this region will not be
seen and from here a bundle of sensory fibres called optic nerves leads back into the brain.
Optic Nerve: It acts like a cable, connecting the eye with the brain. It transmits the visual information in the for
electrical signals generated at retina to the brain.
NOTE:
 Iris regulates the amount of light entering through the eye by adjusting the size of the pupil.
 The pupil appears black, because no light is reflected from it.
 The eyeball is nearly spherical in shape with a diameter of 2.3 cm.

The following table summarises the function of different parts of human eye:
Human eye part Function
Pupil Opens and closes in order to regulate and control the amount of light
Iris Controls amount of light level by controlling size of pupil similar to the aperture
of a camera
Sclera It is an outer coat, which protects eye
Cornea Thin membrane which provides 67% of the eye’s focusing power
Crystalline lens Helps to focus light on the retina for image formation
Conjunctiva Lubricate the eyes by producing mucus and tears
Aqueous humour Maintain intraocular pressure
Vitreous humour Provides the eye its form and shape
Retina Captures the light rays focused by the lens and sends impulses to the brain via
optic nerve
Optic nerve Transmits electrical signals to the brain
Ciliary muscles Contracts and extends in order to change the lens shape for focusing image at
Retina

FORMATION OF AN IMAGE (WORKING OF HUMAN EYE)

An image is formed on the retina by successive refractions at the cornea, the aqueous humour, lens and
vitreous humour. A real, diminished and inverted image of the object is formed on the retina.
The retina is a delicate membrane having enormous number of light-sensitive cells. These light-sensitive cells
get activated upon illumination and generate electric signals. These signals are sent to the brain via the optic
nerve. The brain interprets these signals and finally, process the information so that we perceive objects as
they are.
NOTE:

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 Rod cells are Rod shaped cells respond to the brightness or intensity of light.
 Cone cells are cone shaped cells respond to the colour of light.

TERMS RELATED TO HUMAN EYE

Power of Accommodation: The ability of an eye lens to adjust its focal length by the action of ciliary muscles
to get a clear and sharp image of the distant object as well as nearby object is called power of
accommodation. There is always a limit upto which ciliary muscles can increase or decrease the focal length
of eye lens.

OR

It is ability of eye lens to see near and distance object with same clarity by adjusting its focal length.
For a person having normal vision, it is about 4 dioptres.
Near point of eye (Least distance of distinct vision): The minimum distance between the object and the eye
(lens) so that a clear image is formed on the retina is called the least distance for clear vision or near point of
the eye. This distance is 25 cm for human eye (average value). In early age (infancy), it is around 10 cm and
in old age it is 1-2 m or even more.
Far point of eye: The farthest point upto which an eye can see the objects clearly is called the far point of the
eye for a normal eye, it is at infinity.
Range of vision: The distance between far point and near point of the eye is called range of vision. For
normal vision, it is 25cm to infinity.

Persistence of vision: The time for which the impression or sensation of an object continues in the eye is
called the persistence of vision. It is about 1/16th of a second.

Motion picture: Motion picture projection is done to give us the feeling of moving images of an event. The
event is projected at the rate of 24 frames per second. Any projection more or less than this will lead to
mixed-up or blured image.

Ques: Why do we have two eyes for vision and not just one?
Ans: -The eyes of human being are positioned such that:
I. The field of view is more
II. Three dimensional view is possible
III. Coordinate with the brain can give the concept of distance.

COLOUR OF OBJECTS
Retina has a large number of light-sensitive cells rods and cones. Rod shaped cells respond only to intensity
of light with degree of brightness and darkness but do not respond to colours, whereas cones are sensitive
different extent of primary colours such as red, blue and green. Thus, cones respond to colour but rods do
not, as rod cells help viewing in dim light.

Eyesight of bees:
The retinal cones of bees are sensitive to ultraviolet light which we cannot see with our eyes.

Eyesight of chicks:
Chicks wake up earlier in the morning than humans do, because to their retina have mostly cones which are
very sensitive to bright light and rods are very few.

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Colour-Blindness: Cones with specific colours are there in the retina. If some cones are absent, the
distinction of colour is not possible. In such case, the person is said to be colour-blind. This defect arises due
to (i) absence of colour responding cones cells in the retina and (ii) due to genetic disorder. No cure is
developed till now by the science.

Night-Blindness: Some persons have the difficulty to see the objects in dim light during night. This defect
of eye is called night-blindness. This defect arises due to (i) lack of vitamin A in the food and (ii) improper
functioning of rods-shaped cells. The rods-shaped cells respond to intensity variation in light. So, by taking
the proper amount of vitamin A in the diet the functioning of rods-shaped cells may be improved.

NOTE:

On sunny days, when you enter a dimly lit room, you are unable to see clearly for a moment. Why does
this happen?
In bright light, the iris expands, thereby contracting the pupil. This happens so that only a small quantity of
light enters the eye. As a result, the retina is protected from exposure to excessive light.
On entering a dimly lit room after having been in the sun for some time, the Iris contracts slowly to expand
the pupil. Gradually, more light is able to enters the eye. Hence, it takes a few second before we are able to
see the objects present in the dimly lit room.

Have you ever thought why animals’ eyes are positioned on their heads?
This is because it provides them with the widest possible field of view. Our eyes are located in front of our
face. One eye provides 150° wide field of view while both eyes simultaneously provide 180° wide field of
view. It is the importance of the presence of two eyes as both eyes together provide the three-dimensional
depth in the image.

The loss of power of accommodation of an eye results in the defects of vision.

There are three defects of vision called refractive defects. They are myopia, hypermetropia, and presbyopia.
In this section, we will learn about these defects of vision in detail.

DEFECTS OF VISION AND THEIR CORRECTION

Common defects of vision:
a) Long sightedness or far sightedness or Hypermetropia
b) Short-sightedness or near sightedness or Myopia
c) Presbyopia
d) Astigmation

1) LONG SIGHTEDNESS OR FAR SIGHTEDNESS OR HYPER METROPIA

A human eye which see far off objects or distant objects clearly but cannot see the near objects clearly is
said to be suffered with a defect known as long sightedness or far sightedness or hypermetropia.

Causes of Hypermetropia by:

I. The increase in the focal length of eye lens (Decrease in curvature of lens)
II. the size of the eyeball becomes too small.

Correction of long-sightedness or hypermetropia:

The image of a normal near point (which is 25 cm from the eye lens) is formed behind the retina of eye
having this defect. Hence, the image of the normal near point formed on the retina is blurred.

 The near point of defected eye is little far from the near point of normal eye.

This defect can be corrected by using a convex lens of suitable focal length.

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The convex lens of spectacles reduces the divergence of ray of light entering the eye. Hence this lens makes
the rays of light appear to come from the near point of the defective eye.

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Focal length and power of a convex lens used to correct hypermetropia:

 Let an object to be seen by long-sightedness eye is O which is 25 cm (least distance of distinct

Vision) from eye lens
 The convex lens used in spectacles forms the image of this objects at O’ (the near point of defective
eye)

u= -25 cm & v= -d ( d —> defected near point)

1 −1 1 1 1 1
Using, = + => = +
f u v f 25 (−d)

100
The Power of the lens is P=
f (¿ cm)

2. SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS OR NEAR SIGHTEDNESS OR MYOPIA

A human eye is myopia if it can see near objects clear but unable to see far off objects or distant objects
clearly.

Causes of Myopia:

I. The elongation of the eyeball or

II. The excessive curvature of the cornea. (means decrease in focal length)

Correction of short Sightedness or Myopia:

 The image of a distant objects (i.e at infinity) is formed in front of the retina of eye suffering
from myopia.
 The far point of such an eye is near to the eye. (Far point get defected)

This defect is corrected by using a concave lens of suitable focal length.

The concave lens used diverge the rays of light entering the eye from infinity. Hence this lens makes
the rays of light appear to come from the far point (O’) of the defective eye.

 Focal length and Power of a concave lens used to correct short-sightedness:

The concave lens used to correct myopia diverges the rays of light entering the eyes from infinite
distance object. Let this lens make the rays of light appear to come from far point (O’) of defective
eye.

Here, objects lies at infinite (∞) & the image distance = d

1
i.e u = -∞ & v = -d ( d —> defected far point) [ = 0]
∞

1 −1 1 1 1 1 1 −1
Using = + => = + => =
f u v f ∞ (−d) f d

100
Also, Power (P) =
f ( incm )

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1. PRESBYOPIA

A human eye which cannot see the near objects and distance objects clearly is said to suffer from a
defect known as a Presbyopia. Eye suffering from Presbyopia cannot read and write comfortably.

Causes of Presbyopia:
This defect arises due to the ageing of a person. The weakening of ciliary muscles and flexibility of
the crystalline lens of the human eye decrease with the age of the person. As a result, human eye is
unable to focus on close as well as distant objects.
For most people, the near point gradually recedes away. They find it difficult to see nearby objects
comfortably and distinctly without corrective eye-glasses. This defect is called Presbyopia.
Sometimes, a person may suffer from both myopia and hypermetropia. Such people often require
bi- focal lenses.

Correction of Presbyopia:
 This defect can be corrected by using a bi-focal lens.
 A bi-focal lens consists of a concave lens which forms the upper surface of the bi-focal lens (which
corrects distant vision) and a convex lens which forms the lower surface of bi-focal lens (which
corrects near point).
 The upper surface of bi-focal lens (concave lens) enables the person to see distant objects clearly and
the lower surface of bi-focal lens (convex lens) enables the person to see near objects.

 These days, it is possible to correct the refractive defects with contact lenses or through surgical
interventions.

2. CATARACT

o This problem arises in old age.

o Cataract is caused due to the formation of an opaque membrane over the eye lens.
o This membrane reduces the intensity of light falling on the eye-lens. As opaque membrane
grows, no light falls on the eye lens and hence eye cannot see anything.

Correction:
Normal vision can be restored only after the affected lens is removed by surgery and an artificial
lens is planted in that place.

The following numerical examples help the students in calculating the power of corrective lens in
hypermetropia and myopia:

Ex. 1. Least distance of distinct vision of a long-sighted man is 40 cm. He wishes to reduce it to 25 cm by
using a spectacle. What is the power and type of lens used by him?
sol. u = -25 cm, v = -40 cm
1 1 1
Using= - , we get
f v u
1 1 1
= -
f −40 −25
1 1 1 1.5
 = - =
f 25 40 100

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100 200
A convex lens of focal length, f =
= cm is required.
1.5 3
1 100 100 X 3 3
Power, P = = = = = + 1.5 dioptre
f f ∈cm 200 2

Ex. 2. A person cannot see distinctly any object placed beyond 40 cm from his eye. Calculate the power
of the lens which will help him to see distant objects clearly.
Sol. A lens which can bring an object at ∞ to 40 cm is required for the person
u = -∞ , v = -40 cm
1 1 1
Using = - , we get
f v u
1 1 1
= - = -2.5 dioptre.
f −40 −∞

REFRACTION OF LIGHT THROUGH A PRISM

Prism is a homogeneous transparent refracting medium bounded by at least two non-parallel surfaces
inclined at same angle. When a ray of light is incident on a rectangular glass slab, after refracting through
the slab, it gets displaced laterally. As a result, the emergent ray comes out parallel to the incident ray.
A triangular prism is a three-dimensional polyhedron, made up of two triangular bases and three
rectangular lateral surfaces. These surfaces are inclined to each other. The angle between its two
lateral faces is called the angle of the prism. It has 5 faces, 9 edges, and 6 vertices.

💡 Does the same happen if a ray of light passes through a glass prism?

Unlike a rectangular slab, the sides of a glass prism are inclined at an angle called the angle of prism.
Therefore, a ray of light incident on its surface, after refraction, will not emerge parallel to the incident light
ray (as seen in the case of a rectangular slab).

💡 Refraction of light through a glass prism:

To observe the refraction of light through a glass prism, we can perform the following activity:
Take a triangular glass prism, paper sheet, and a few drawing pins. Fix the sheet on a drawing board with
the help of drawing pins. Now, place the glass prism on the sheet and draw the outline MNP of the prism on
the sheet (as shown in the figure). Draw a straight-line AB on the sheet in such a way that it makes some
angle with the face MN of the prism. Now, fix two pins on this line and mark them as R and S respectively.

Now, observe the pins R and S through the other side of the prism. Move your head laterally to see the two
pins R and S in a straight line. Fix a pin on the sheet near the prism on your side and mark it as T.
Repeat the same step and try to observe the three pins R, S, and T in a straight line. Fix another pin on the
sheet (mark it as W) so that all four pins appear to be in a straight line when looked through the prism.
Draw a straight-line CD that passes through the third and the fourth pin i.e., T and W respectively (see
figure).

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Now, remove the prism and join points B and C. The straight-line AB, BC, and CD shows the path of the
light ray. It is clear that the path of light is not a straight line since light bends towards the base NP.

💡 What causes the light to bend when passed through a prism?

Light bends because of refraction that takes place at points B and C respectively when it tries to enter and
emerge from the prism.

Now, draw a straight line HH’ normal to side MN and let it pass through point B. Similarly, draw a straight-
line GG’ normal to side MP and let it pass through point C.

Here, line AB = Incident ray

Line BC = Refracted ray
Line CD = Emergent ray
Angle i = Angle of incidence
Angle r = Angle of refraction
Angle e = Angle of emergence
Angle δ = Angle of deviation

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Hence, you will get the path of light ray AB when it travels through a glass prism. The ray AB will bend
towards the normal HH’ at point B and follow the path BC. Again, it bends away from the normal GG’ at C,
when it tries to emerge from the prism. This is because the refractive index of air is less than that of glass.
Thus, the incident ray AB will not follow a straight-line BE.
The extent of deviation of the light ray from its path BE to path CD is known as the angle of deviation (δ).

ANGLE OF DEVIATION (δ)

It is the angle which the emergent ray (produced backward) makes with the incident ray (produced forward).
It depends upon angle of prism ( A), angle of incidence (i) and angle of emergence (e) and is given by
i+ e = A+ δ

DISPERSION OF WHITE LIGHT BY A GLASS PRISM

o When white light passes through the glass prism, we get a band of seven colour on a white screen.
The
colours are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange & red. (VIBGYOR)
o A band of seven colours of white light is known as spectrum.
o The phenomenon of splitting white light into its component colours is known as dispersion.

CAUSE OF DISPERSION
Light of different colours, travel with the same speed in vacuum and air but in any other medium they travel
with different speeds and bend through different angles, which leads to the dispersion of light.
Red light has the maximum wavelength, and violet light has the minimum wavelength, so in any medium red-
light travels fastest and deviates least while violet light travels slowest and deviates maximum.

 Isaac Newton was the first to use a glass prism to obtain the spectrum of sunlight.

RECOMBINATION OF WHITE LIGHT

Newton showed that the reverse of dispersion of light is also possible. He kept two prisms close to each
other one in erect position and the other in inverted position. The light gets dispersed when pass through
the first prism.
The second prism receive all the seven coloured rays from first prism and recombines them into original
white light. This observation shows that sunlight is made up of seven colours. Any light that gives spectrum
similar to that of sunlight, is called white light.

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RAINBOW
lt is an optical natural spectrum produced by the
nature in the sky, in the form of a multicoloured arc. It
is formed by the dispersion of sunlight by the tiny
water droplets present in the atmosphere after the
rain. These water droplets act like a small prism. 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. You can also see a rainbow on a sunny
day when you look at the sky through a waterfall or
through a water fountain, with the sun behind you.

Necessary Condition for the Formation of a Rainbow:

I. The presence of water droplets in the atmosphere, and
II. The sun must be at the back of the observer. i.e. observer must stand with his back towards the sun.

 Sometimes, we may get two rainbows. They are called primary and secondary rainbows. In primary
rainbow, red colour appears on the top of the rainbow and violet colour appears at the bottom of
the rainbow. In secondary rainbow. red colour appears on the inner edge and violet on the outer
edge.

NOTE: Red colour appears on the upper side of the rainbow and violet on the lower side, in case of primary
rainbow.

Do you know why rainbow is shaped similar to an arc?

This is because the rainbow is formed by the dispersion of white light by spherical water droplets. It is the
shape of the water droplets that gives the rainbow an arc shape.

ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION
Change in the direction of light rays traveling through the atmosphere due to change in density of the
different layers of air is called atmospheric refraction. There are several natural events which can be

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explained on the basis of atmospheric refraction, such as twinkling of stars, advanced sunrise and delayed
sunset, etc.

(i) Apparent position of stars (The stars seem higher than they actually are): This is due to the refraction of
light coming from the stars by atmosphere. The starlight, on entering the earth’s atmosphere, undergoes
refraction continuously before it reaches the earth. The atmospheric refraction occurs in a medium of
gradually changing refractive index (The upper layers of atmosphere are rarer than the lower layers).
Since the atmosphere bends starlight towards the normal, the apparent position of the star is slightly
different from its actual position. The star appears slightly higher (above) than its actual position, when
viewed near the horizon.

(ii) Twinkling of stars ✨: This is due to atmospheric refraction. As the light from a star enters the earth’s
atmosphere, it undergoes refraction and bends towards the normal each time as it passes through
different layers of air. Therefore, the apparent position is different from real position. The star appears
slightly higher (above) than its actual position, when viewed near the horizon. Further, this apparent
position of the star is not stationary, but keeps on changing slightly, since the physical conditions of
the earth’s atmosphere are not stationary. Since the stars are very distant, they approximate point-
sized sources of light. As the path of rays of light coming from the star goes on varying slightly, the
apparent position of the star fluctuates and the amount of starlight entering the eye flickers – the star
sometimes appears brighter, and at some other time, fainter, which is the twinkling effect.

(iii) Planet do not Twinkle: The planets are much closer to the earth and are thus seen as extended sources.
If we consider a planet as a collection of a large number of point-sized sources of light, the total
variation in the amount of light entering our eye from all the individual point-sized sources will average
out to zero, thereby nullifying the twinkling effect. So, planets do not twinkle. 🪐

(iv) Advance sunrise and delayed sunset: The sun is visible to us about two minutes before the actual
sunrise and about two minutes after the actual sunset. This is because of atmospheric refraction. When
the sun is slightly below the horizon, the sunlight coming from less dense to more dense layers of air, is
refracted downwards. Because of this, the sun appears to be raised above the horizon and so the rising
of sun can be seen about 2 min before actual sunrise. Similarly, due to atmospheric refraction, the sun
can be seen for about 2 min even after the sun set below horizon.

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(v) Flickering of objects: Observe an object that is placed near a rising flame or fire. It will appear to be
flickering. This is because the air above the fire is relatively hotter than the air further up in the
atmosphere. Hence, hot air rises up and cold air moves in to fill the space. This process results in the
variation of refractive index of air, present in the vicinity of fire. The refractive index of warm air is less
than that of cool air. The physical condition of the atmosphere changes continuously, thereby bringing a
continuous change in the refractive index of air. Hence, the apparent position of the object seems to
fluctuate when seen through hot air. So, object appears to be flickering or wavering as seen through a

hot air above flame.

(vi) The sun appears oval (or flattened) at sunset & sunrise but appear circular at noon:
The atmosphere closer to the horizon has more density. The density changes as we move farther away
from the horizon line. At sunrise and sunset, the sun is near the horizon. The refractive index of the
layers of the atmosphere decreases with height. The rays of light from the lower edges of the Sun are
refracted more than those from the upper edges, due to passage through a greater thickness of air. In
other words, rays of light from the upper and the lower edges of the Sun bend unequally. The image of
the Sun seems oval and greater in size due to the uneven bending of light.

At noon, the sun is overhead, the rays of light from the sun enter the atmosphere normally and hence
they do not bend at all while passing through the atmosphere. Therefore, the sun appears circular at
noon.

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SCATTERING OF LIGHT
When white light from sun enters the earth's atmosphere, the light gets
scattered i.e., the light spreads in all directions by the dust particles, free
water molecules and the molecules of the gases present in the
atmosphere. This phenomenon is called scattering of light.

 Scattering of light depends on the following factors:

 Size of particle
 Wavelength of light

The colour of the scattered light depends on the size of the scattering particles. Very fine particles scatter
light of shorter wavelengths (such as blue light) while particles of larger size scatter light of longer
wavelengths (such as red colour). If the size of the scattering particles is large enough, then, the scattered
light may even appear white.

The amount of scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength of light. This is
known as Rayleigh's law of scattering. This means that shorter wavelengths scatter more than longer
wavelengths. For example, blue light scatters more than red light when traveling through air. This is because
the size of the air molecules is much smaller than the wavelength of the light.
 The blue light present in sunlight is scattered 10 times more than the red light.
 Scattering α d6 (where, d = diameter of particle)
1
 Scattering α 4 (where, λ = wavelength of light)
λ

NOTE: The colour of the scattered light depends on the size of the scattering particles

SOME PHENOMENA BASED ON SCATTERING OF LIGHT

Some phenomena based on scattering of light are:

(i) Tyndall effect: The path of a beam of light passing through a true solution is not visible. However, its path
become visible when it passes through a colloidal solution, where the size of the particles is relatively larger.
This phenomenon of scattering of light when it passes through a colloidal solution is called Tyndall effect. The
earth’s atmosphere is a heterogeneous mixture of minute particles. These particles include smoke, tiny water
droplets, suspended particles of dust and molecules of air. When a beam of light strikes such fine particles, the
path of the beam becomes visible & cause Tyndall Effect.

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NOTE: Rayleigh Scattering. According to Rayleigh "The amount of scattering is inversely proportional to the
fourth power of the wavelength." Therefore, the light of shorter wavelength is scattered much more than the
light of longer wavelength. There is no change in the wavelength of light rays during scattering. The most
beautiful phenomena of nature, such as 'Blue Colour of Sky', 'White Colour of Clouds', 'Red Hues of Sunrise
and Sunset' can be explained in terms of scattering of light.

(ii) Why is the colour of clear sky blue?

When sunlight enters the earth’s atmosphere, the atoms or molecule of the gases present in the atmosphere
scatter this light. Since the wavelength of red colour is larger than the wavelength of other colours in sunlight,
so red colour is scattered least. Voilet colour is scattered the most followed by indigo, blue, green, yellow,
orange and red colour respectively. Our eye is more sensitive to the blue light than the violet light. Therefore,
scattered light in the sky contains blue colour in plenty & hence clear sky appears blue.

NOTE: Sky appear grayish over cities having more industries. The smoke & dust particles in the atmosphere
over such cities scatter red, orange & yellow colours more than other colour of small wavelengths. Hence, the
sky appears grayish.

NOTE: If the earth had no atmosphere, there would not have been any scattering. Then, the sky would have
looked dark. The sky appears dark to astronauts or passengers flying at very high altitudes, as scattering is
not prominent at such heights.

(iii) Colour of sun at sunrise and sunset

At sunrise and sunset, the sun and the sky appear red. Light from the sun near the horizon passes through
thicker layers of air and covers larger distance in the atmosphere before reaching our eyes. Near the horizon
most of the blue light and shorter wavelength colour components are scattered away by the particles.
Therefore, the light that reaches our eyes is of longer wavelengths (such as red & orange). This gives rise to
the reddish appearance of the sun and the sky. However at the noon, the light from the sun overhead would
travel relatively shorter distance. So, it appears white as only a little of the blue and violet colours are
scattered.

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 SCIENCE WITH JP BRAR | WHITEHAWK ACADEMY

NOTE: If the earth had no atmosphere, then sky would have looked dark and black.

(iv) Why clouds are white?

Clouds are made of water droplets of different sizes. These different sized droplets scatter different colours.
For example, the tiniest droplets scatter more blue light than other colours. Droplets of size greater than the
tiniest droplets scatter more green light and the largest droplets scatter more red light. As, all the colours are
scattered by the droplets in the clouds, so the resultant light is white. Hence, clouds appear white.

(v) Danger signals are Red.

The wavelength of red colour is longer among the order colours of visible spectrum of sunlight. According to
1
Rayleigh scattering law (scattering α ), red colour is least scattering while passing thorugh the
λ4
atmosphere and therefore, travels large distance, i.e. red colour can be seen thorugh a large distance.
Hence, the danger signals make use of red light.

SOME IMPORTANT POINTS

 Name three primary colour?

Ans – RED, BLUE, GREEN
 Monochromatic light: Light consisting of single colour or wavelength is called monochromatic light, e.g.
sodium light

 Polychromatic light: Light consisting of more than two colours or wavelength is called polychromatic light,
e.g. white light.

 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.

 When there is no impurity present in air, the colour of the sun at sunrise and sunset appears to be
yellowish. Due to the presence of salt particles in air over seas and oceans, the colour of the sun at sunrise
or sunset appears to be orange.

 Due to the presence of red iron-rich dust, the sky appears red from the Mars surface. All these natural
phenomena take place due to the scattering of sunlight.

ACTIVITY

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 PHYSICS | CLASS 10

Aim :To study the effect of transmitted and scattered light from the same particles of the media.
Apparatus required: Strong source of white light, two converging lens, transparent glass tank, water,
cardboard, 200 gram of sodium thiosulphate (hypo), 2 ml of conc. Sulphuric acid screen.
Procedure:
1. Take a convex lens having known focal length placed it in a stand.
2.Place a strong source of white light at the focus of convex lens (L1).
3.Allow the parallel beam of light, obtained from the convex lens 'L1' after refraction, to pass through a
transparent glass tank containing clear water.
4.Allow the emergent parallel rays from the tank to pass through a circular hole (c) made in a cardboard.
5. Place a second convex lens 'L2' in front of a hole and at its focus, place a screen MN.
6. Obtain a sharp image of the circular hole on a screen, as shown in figure.
7.Dissolve about 200 gram of sodium thiosulphate (hypo) in about 2L of clean water taken in the tank.
8. Add about 12 ml of concentrated sulphuric acid to the water.
9. Observe the colour from three sides of the S glass tank.
10. Observe the colour of the transmitted light from the fourth side of the glass tank facing the circular
hole.

Observation :1. From three sides of glass tank, we observe blue colour of light.
2. From fourth side i.e., front side of the glass tank, we observe first orange red colour and then
bright crimson red colour on the screen.

Conclusion: The fine microscopic sulphur particles precipitating in about 2 to 3 minutes. As the
sulphur particles begin to form, they scatter short wavelength which gives the effect of blue light.
The light that reaches on the screen is of longer wavelength. Thus, the transrnitted light gives the
reddish appearance on the screen.

Note: This activity explains the phenomenon of bluish colour of the sky and reddish appearance of
the sun at the sunrise or the sunset.

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