Bellerbys College

Q1.          The graph shows the distribution of rod cells and cone cells across the retina of a human
eye.

Use the diagram to explain why

(i)      no image is perceived when light is focused on the retina at Y;

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...................................................................................................................... (1)

(ii)      an image formed at X is perceived in more detail than an image formed at Z.

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(2)(Total 3 marks)

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Q2.          The diagram shows part of the retina in a human eye.

(a)     Explain each of the following observations.

(i)      When light falls on cells 1 and 2, only one spot of light is seen. But, when light
falls on cells 2 and 3, two spots of light are seen.

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............................................................................................................. (1)

(ii)     When one unit of light energy falls on cell 3, no light is seen. But, when one
unit of light energy falls on cell 3, one unit falls on cell 4 and one unit falls on
cell 5, light is seen.

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............................................................................................................. (3)

(b)     Cells of the same type as cells 6 and 7 are found in large numbers at the fovea. This
results in colour vision with high visual acuity. Explain what causes vision using the
fovea.

(i)      to be in colour;

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............................................................................................................. (1)

(ii)     to have high visual acuity.

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........................................................................................ (1)(Total 6 marks)

Q3.          The diagram shows the distribution of cone cells across the retina of a human eye.

(a) On the diagram draw a line to show the distribution of rod cells across the retina.(2)

(b)     Nocturnal mammals are active at night. Describe how the number and distribution of
rods and cones across the retina would differ in a nocturnal mammal from the
number and distribution in a human.

Explain your answer.

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........................................................................................................ (3)(Total 5 marks)

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Q4.          After moving from bright light into darkness, it takes several minutes for the rod cells
to recover their sensitivity. Researchers measured the ability of the rod cells to detect
small spots of light of different colours and intensity after a person moved into darkness.
The results are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows the amount of light of different wavelengths that rhodopsin absorbs.

Figure 1                                                    Figure 2

(i)      Explain why it takes time for the rod cells to recover their sensitivity to light after
moving into darkness.

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(2)

(ii)      Use information in Figures 1 and 2 to explain the differences in sensitivity of rod
cells to red and green light.

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(2)

(iii)     Suggest an explanation for the difference in sensitivity of rod cells to the white and
green spots after 30 minutes.

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(1)
(Total 5 marks)

M1.          (i)      no (photo)receptor cells at Y/no rods and cones;

1

(ii)      X has many / only cones  / more cones than Z;

which each synapse to a single neurone / bipolar cell / no
retinal convergence;
OR
Z has mainly rods/more rods than cones;
which share/converge on neurones/bipolar cells; 2 [3]

M2.          (a)     (i)      1 and 2 share neurone but 2 and 3 have separate neurones (to brain);
Ignore wrong names of neurons 1

(ii)     1 unit is sub-threshold / 3 units are above threshold / give sufficient

depolarisation;
(1 unit) No impulses / no action potential / in (sensory) neurone /
does not stimulate (sensory) neurone / 3 units → impulses;
(Spatial) summation / sufficient neurotransmitter released / from
3 receptors / insufficient N-T from one;
Reject ‘temporal’ 3

(b)     (i)      (Three) different types of (cone) cells / types 6 and 7 sensitive
to different wavelengths / different frequencies / different colours;

(ii)     Impulses along separate neurone from each receptor cell / each
receptor cell connects to separate neurone; 2 [6]

M3.          (a)     no rods at blind spot or fovea;

greater distribution of rods at edge; 2

(b)     more rods and no / fewer cones present;

rods at the fovea / rods not mainly at periphery;

rods have high sensitivity / show retinal convergence /

converse for cones;

rhodopsin ‘bleached’ at low light intensities / iodopsin ‘bleached’;

at high light intensities; 3 max [5]

M4.          (i)      rhodopsin bleached/broken down by light;

time for resynthesis;
2

(ii)      rhodopsin/pigment absorbs green light more readily than red / is

more sensitive to green light;
(after resynthesis) less (intense) green light needed to break down
rhodopsin (than red);
2

(iii)     white has (high proportion of) wavelengths to which rhodopsin not
sensitive;
1

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[5]

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