Physics of the Ear and Eye

TEACHER: MR B. BURNETT D AT E : 2 6 / 0 2 / 1 3 CLASS:6B

Facts & Definitions

Intensity, I, is defined as the energy transported by a wave per unit time across

a unit area perpendicular to the energy flow. I A2 (A = amplitude) , I 1/r2 (r = distance measured from source to a point) The decibel (dB) is the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound. On the decibel scale (logarithmic scale) the smallest audible sound is 0dB. A sound 10 times more powerful is 10dB. A sound 100 times more powerful than near total silence is 20 dB and so on. The audible range of human hearing is 20Hz- 20kHz. The response of the human ear is measured on a logarithmic scale as the ear is very sensitive to a wide range of frequencies (up to a million (106 Hz). To accommodate this range a log scale known as the decibel scale (dB) is used. The ear responds to an increase in sound intensity by a factor or power of 10 which means that a sound intensity of 40dB is 10 (101) times as intense as a 30dB sound 100 (102) times as intense as a 20dB sound.

Sensitivity of the Human Ear

Analysis of Response Curve

The ear is not equally sensitive to sounds at different frequencies. The ear is most sensitive to sounds in the range: 2kHz-4kHz Units for Loudness level: phons( do not need to know for CAPE) The top curve 120 dB, represents the threshold of pain. Sounds

above this level can actually be felt and cause pain. The slightest sound that the human ear can detect is called the threshold of hearing.

Frequency Response of the Human Ear

Analysis of Frequency Response Curve

The graph shows how sounds in the middle of the

frequency range (max) appear loudest to the ear. In addition, the ear compares the loudness of two sounds in terms of the ratio of the two amplitudes rather than the difference of their amplitudes. Because of this the decibel scale is used.
N.B The human ear hears each 20dB increase on this

scale as an equal increase in loudness.

Sound Intensity Levels

Sound level (decibels, dB) Intensity, W/m2 Example of Sound

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

100 1 10 -2 10 -4 10 -6 10 -8 10 -10 10 -12

above this level permanent ear damage (e.g. gunshots, firecrackers, explosions) Threshold of pain,. E.g. using a drill, jet engine rock concerts, car horn a door slam, telephone ringing nearby (~3m) normal conversations quiet street/ whisper quiet room/ library threshold of hearing, (sound just audible)

Intensity level (in decibels)

**Very important formula (in dB) = 10 log10 I / Io where: I = intensity Io = threshold intensity ( 1.0 x10-12 W/m2 ) *should be able to recall this

PQ1
A mosquito's buzz is often rated with a decibel rating

of 40 dB. Normal conversation is often rated at 60 dB. How many times more intense is normal conversation compared to a mosquito's buzz?
Ans: 100 times

PQ2
On a good night, the front row of the Twisted Sister

concert would surely result in a 120 dB sound level. An IPod produces 100 dB. How many IPods would be needed to produce the same intensity as the front row of the Twisted Sister concert? Ans: 100 Ipods

PQ3
At a busy street corner, the sound level is 70dB. What is the

intensity (in W/m2) of sound there? (*Recall x = log y is equal to y= 10x)

Ans: 1.0 x 10-5 W/m2

PQ4
A noisy motorbike travels down ghost-rider street

emitting sounds at an intensity of 6x10-2 W/m2. What is the sound level in (dB) at which this occurs?
Ans: 108dB

Subjective qualities of Noise & Loudness

Sound which is not wanted or unpleasant to the ear is

called noise. Noise is said to be subjective as what may be considered noise to an adult may be music to the ears of a child. Loudness refers to how strong a sound seems when we hear it. This is related to the amplitude of the emitted sound wave. Likewise, this is a subjective response as what may be considered loud to one person may not necessarily be loud to another. Recall: The Pitch of a sound is its frequency

Lens
A lens is a transparent piece of glass or plastic with at least one

curved surface. It refracts light rays in such a way as to form an image.

There are two (2) main types of lenses: 1) Convex (converging) lens 2) Concave (diverging) lens

Types of Lens

Definitions
The principal axis of a lens is the line joining the centres of curvature of the

two surfaces, and passes through the middle of the lens. The focal length, f, of a lens is the distance between the optical centre and the principal focus. By convention, the focal length, f, of a converging lens is positive (+) in sign. Since the focus of a diverging lens is virtual, the focal length of such a lens is negative (-). The optical centre of a lens is the point midway between the lens surface on its principal axis. Rays passing through the optical centre are not deflected. The principal focus of a converging lens is the point to which all rays incident parallel to the principal axis converge after refraction by the lens. This focus is real. The principal focus of a diverging lens is the point from which all incident rays parallel to the principal axis appear to diverge after refraction by the lens. This focus is virtual.

Diagrams of both lenses

Convex (Converging) Lens

Concave (diverging) Lens

Convex vs. Concave

Convex (converging) lens Concave (diverging) lens
Has a virtual focus Images are always virtual. Has a negative (-) power (D)

Has a real focus *The image is sometimes

real(object > F) and sometimes virtual (object F). F = focal point Has a positive (+) power (D).

Images
There are two (2) main types of images: - real -virtual real images - are produced from actual rays of light coming to a

focus (eg a film projected onto a screen)

virtual images - are produced from where rays of light appear to

be coming from (eg a magnifying glass image)

Ray diagram 1

Rays of light passing through the optical centre are not deflected.

Ray diagram 2

Rays travelling parallel to the principal axis will converge to the principal focus for convex lens( forming a real and inverted image and diverge from the concave lens; appearing to have come from a principal focus on the same side as the object(image = virtual)

Ray diagram 3

Rays of light travelling through the principal focus (focal point) emerge parallel to the principal axis

Ray Diagrams

Power of Lenses
The power of a lens is defined as the reciprocal of its focal

length, f, in metres (m). Thus,

Power, P = 1/f Units: dioptre (D) The dioptre (D) is the power of a lens of focal length one metre.

From the formula, it is clear that the shorter the focal length, the greater the power. N.B The thicker the lens, the higher the power.

Example
Find the power of a lens if its focal length (f) = 20cm. Ans: P = 1 / 0.2m = 5D

PQ- Power of a Diverging Lens

A diverging lens of power -2.0D is used in a pair of

spectacles to correct the sight of a short-sighted person. Calculate (a) its focal length and (b) the position and nature of the image it forms of an object 2.0m away from it.

Around the Lens

**The Lens formula

** 1/u + 1/v = 1/f Where, u = object distance v = image distance f = focal length (in metres, m) The object distance, u, is the distance from the optical centre of a

lens to the object and is usually positive (+). The image distance, v, is the distance from the optical centre of the lens to the image.

Sign Convention
There is a sign convention that is adopted when using the lens

formula called the real is positive sign rule. For real object and image distances we put a plus (+) sign while for virtual object and image distances we put a minus (-) sign.

Magnification
The ratio of image size (or distance) to object size (or distance) is

called magnification, m. As it is a ratio, it has no units!

Magnification, m = image distance / object distance ** m = v / u

PQ- lens formula

An object is placed in front of a converging lens of focal length

12cm. Find the nature (real (+) or virtual (-), position and magnification of the image when the object distance is (a) 16cm and (b) 8cm

PQ- lens formula

An object is placed 12cm from a converging lens of focal

length 18cm. Find the nature (real or virtual) and position of the image. Ans: v = -36cm

Images of Objects at varying Distances

Object < F
An object positioned before the focal point, F, yields an image that is: -virtual -upright -magnified

E.g. magnifying glass, simple microscope

Object at F

For an object positioned at the focal point, F, the image is: -virtual and at infinity

e.g. theatre spot lights

Object between F and 2F

An object between F and 2F produces an image that is: -real -inverted -enlarged

e.g. projectors

Object at 2F

For an object placed at 2F, the image formed is: -real -inverted -same size as object

Object > 2F or at infinity

Image formed is: -Real -inverted -diminished

e.g. telescope

Defects of the eye and their correction

Facts on the Human Eye

The human eye can accommodate a range of distances from

about 25cm (near point) and to infinity (far point). The closest distance at which the eye can focus clearly is called the near point of the eye. As you get older the ability of the eye to accommodate is reduced and the near point increases. For example, a child can have a near point of 10cm while typically the value of the near point in young adults are 25cm. The farthest distance at which an object can be seen clearly is called the far point of the eye. N.B distant objects implies that the object is at infinity.

Depth of focus
The range of image distances over which the image

of an improperly focused object is acceptably sharp is called the depth of focus or

A measure of the power of a lens to produce images at

different distances from it.

Accommodation
Accommodation is name given to the ability of the eye to change

its focal length and produce focused images of both distant and near objects on the retina. This is done by the action of the ciliary muscles on the lens which causes them to contract in bright light or when trying to focus on nearby objects and relaxes when viewing distant objects.

Defects of the eye

The eye has many defects preventing the eye to function

normally. Some of these include: 1) farsightedness (long-sight, hyperopia or Hypermetropia), 2) nearsightedness (short-sight or myopia), 3) astigmatism, 4) cataracts etc.

Short-sight (Myopia)
In this defect, the eye can only focus on nearby objects. Distant

objects appear blurry and the far point is reduced. The images are focused in front of the retina. Causes - eyeball too long - excessive curvature of the cornea
Correction

A concave (diverging) lens is used to diverge or refract (bend) the

rays of light before entering the eye and converges to a point on the retina.

Correction for Short-sight

Long-sight (hyperopia)
In this defect, the eye cannot focus on nearby objects (only

distant objects ). The near point is somewhat greater than the normal 25cm, which makes exercises like reading difficult. Causes - eyeball too short - insufficient curvature of the cornea
Correction

- It is corrected by using a convex (converging) lens to converge

the rays of light before entering the eye.

Correction of Long-sight
Normal eye

PQ
Sue is farsighted with a near point of 100cm.

Reading glasses must have what lens power so that she can read a newspaper at a distance of 25cm? Assume the lens is very close to the eye

Astigmatism
is an eye defect in which the eye has two different focal lengths in two different planes. This causes multiple images to be focused on the retina creating a blurry sensation. Causes - irregular (barrel- shaped) curvature of the cornea N.B Cornea is normally spherical in shape
Astigmatism

Correction

Corrected using eye-glasses, contact lenses and

vision(refractive) surgery.

Astigmatism cont

Cataracts
A clouding of the lens that affects vision.

Cataracts
Causes - mainly by aging - excessive ultraviolet light exposure

Correction - laser surgery to remove the cloudy layer on the lens.

Cataracts

Magnifying glass
A convex lens is used as a magnifying glass due to its

magnification properties, that is, it produces highly magnified images of objects. As previously mentioned, this can only be attained when the object is the focal length, f, of the lens.

A simple Camera
The function of a simple camera is very similar to that of the eye.

It also has a convex (converging) lens which focuses the light from an object on to a light-sensitive film at the back of the camera (retina). A stop/diaphragm ( iris) allows the light on the central part of the lens only, which makes for greater clarity of the image, and a shutter (pupil) opens and closes at a speed depending on lighting conditions.

Eye vs Camera
Eye
Convex lens system produces a real

Camera
Convex lens system produces a real

inverted, diminished image on retina Light incident on the retina stimulates electrical impulses to the brain Can focus objects between near point and infinity Iris controls the amount of light energy entering the eye, pupil is open continuously. Focusing is achieved by changing the thickness of the eye lens

inverted, diminished image on the film Light incident on the film stimulates chemical changes in the photographic emulsion Can focus objects between a few centimetres (cm) from the lens and infinity Aperture diaphragm controls the amount of light energy reaching the film, in conjunction with the shutter, which is only opened for a predetermined time. Focusing is achieved by changing the distance between the lens and the film.