You may have noticed that the eyes of cats appear to glow green in low light. This effect is due to the reflection of light by the tapetum lucidum, a highly reflective membrane just behind the retina of the eye. Light that has passed through the retina without hitting photoreceptors is reflected back to the retina, thus enabling the animal to see much better than humans in low light. Suppose the eye of a cat is 1.34 cm in diameter. Assume that the light enters the eye traveling parallel to the principal axis of the lens. If some of the light reflected off the tapetum lucidum escapes being absorbed by the retina, what is the horizontal distance ?from the retina to the point where the light will be focused? Neglect any effects due to the liquid in the eye. x = ? cm The refractive index of the liquid in the eye is about 1.4. How does this affect the location of the image relative to where it would be if the eye were filled with air?

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
5th Edition
ISBN:9781133104261
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Chapter25: Reflection And Refraction Of Light
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 7OQ: Light traveling in a medium of index of refraction n1 is incident on another medium having an index...
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You may have noticed that the eyes of cats appear to glow green in low light. This effect is due to the reflection of light by the tapetum lucidum, a highly reflective membrane just behind the retina of the eye. Light that has passed through the retina without hitting photoreceptors is reflected back to the retina, thus enabling the animal to see much better than humans in low light.

Suppose the eye of a cat is 1.34 cm in diameter. Assume that the light enters the eye traveling parallel to the principal axis of the lens.

If some of the light reflected off the tapetum lucidum escapes being absorbed by the retina, what is the horizontal distance ?from the retina to the point where the light will be focused? Neglect any effects due to the liquid in the eye.

x = ? cm

The refractive index of the liquid in the eye is about 1.4. How does this affect the location of the image relative to where it would be if the eye were filled with air?

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