Read the information below about a museum conservator who restores old paintings. After several hours under bright inspection lamps, the conservator notices...
Question 1 Report
Read the information below about a museum conservator who restores old paintings. After several hours under bright inspection lamps, the conservator notices that fine colour differences are harder to judge. Fig. 1 shows an enlarged diagram of two types of receptor cell from the retina. One cell is labelled C and the other is labelled D. The conservator takes a short break in a dim room before returning to the work.
(a) Name the type of receptor cell labelled C. [1]
(b) Name the type of receptor cell labelled D. [1]
(c) Describe two differences between the functions of C and D. [4]
(d) Explain why a dim-room break may help the conservator see in low light, but does not directly improve colour vision. [4]
(e) State where these receptor cells are found in the human body. [1]
(f) Which structure controls the amount of light entering the eye? [1]
(g) Explain why extremely bright lamps can be harmful to the eye. [1]
Answer Details
(a) C is a cone cell. [1]
(b) D is a rod cell. [1]
(c) Cones detect colour, whereas rods do not and give black-and-white vision. Rods work in dim light, while cones need brighter light. Cones also provide detailed vision. Any four of these valid comparisons gain credit. [4]
(d) In dim conditions, rod cells adapt and become more effective at detecting faint light. However, rods do not detect colour. Colour vision requires cone cells and adequate light, so the dim-room break helps low-light vision but does not directly improve colour discrimination. [4]
(e) These receptor cells are found in the retina. [1]
(f) The iris controls the amount of light entering the eye by changing pupil size. [1]
(g) Extremely bright light can damage the retina or its light-sensitive receptor cells. [1]
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