Question

Manoj is a 12-year-old boy. He obtained a lens from one of his friends. Manoj held the lens towards the Sun and started looking at the Sun through it. On seeing this, Manoj’s elder brother ran towards him and snatched away the lens from him. The brother firmly told Manoj not to do it again.

1. What could be the nature of the lens?
2. Why did the brother snatch the lens from Manoj?
3. What could have happened to Manoj if his brother had not snatched away the lens from him? Explain.
4. What values are shown by Manoj’s brother?

Answer 1

1. It is a convex lens (or a converging lens).
2. The brother snatched the lens to protect Manoj’s eyes from immediate and severe damage caused by focused sunlight.
3. The convex lens would converge the strong, parallel rays of sunlight to a sharp focus directly onto Manoj’s retina. The intense heat generated at this point would burn his retina, causing permanent eye damage or complete blindness.
4. Manoj’s brother shows values of being caring, protective, responsible, and alert to danger.