This article investigates the optics conceptions of 228 Thai high school students in grades 10-12 when they attempted to explain how an object can be seen both in general and in a completely dark room. To elicit students' conceptions precisely, their confidence in giving reasons for the final two diagnostic questions is also considered. The study…

This work presents an experiment that seeks to simulate human color vision through electronic components in an attempt to build, together with the students, a cybernetic 'eye'. The limitation of the cybernetic eye developed here in relation to the standard human chromatic vision, which makes it a 'colorblind eye', is an argument to be explored by…

Recent developments in the diagnosis and correction of eye aberrations give rise to the appealing prospect of achieving "super" vision. The fundamental limits for vision improvement, which are imposed by optical imaging and photoreceptor sampling, are summarized and discussed in this article. (Contains 4 figures.)

Many simple experiments can be performed in the classroom to explore the physics of vision. Students can learn of the two types of receptive cells (rods and cones), their distribution on the retina and the existence of the blind spot.

Discusses human ability to perceive repeated sensory stimuli in the visual system, and explains that its frequency fc has a critical value, under normal conditions, about 40 Hz. (GA)

An elementary physical model of cone receptor cells is explained and applied to complexities of human color vision. One-, two-, and three-receptor systems are considered, with the later shown to be the best model for the human eye. Color blindness is also discussed. (DH)

We present a simple activity in which students measure the resolving power of their eyes. The approach can be used at various levels of sophistication with students having a wide variety of skills and scientific training. We discuss our experiences using this activity with a class of non-science majors as well as with a group of pre-engineering…