Which of the following phenomena is a function of the distribution of the rods and cones in the retina?
A) The moon looks much larger near the horizon than it looks when it is higher in the sky.
B) The light from distant stars moving rapidly away from us is shifted toward the red end of the spectrum.
C) Stars can be seen only with difficulty during the daytime.
D) A dim star viewed at night may disappear when you look directly at it but reappear when you look to one side of it.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rods and cones are responsible for our ability to see in low light conditions and color vision, respectively. The phenomenon described in option D, where a dim star may disappear when looked at directly but reappear when looked at to the side, is due to the distribution of rods and cones in the retina. When looking directly at the star, the light is falling on the region of the retina with the highest concentration of cones, which are less sensitive to light. When looking to the side, the light falls on a region with a higher concentration of rods, which are more sensitive to light, allowing the star to become visible again. The other options are unrelated to the distribution of rods and cones in the retina.

Which of the Following Phenomena Is a Function of the Distribution