Dana sees no glowing embers when she looks directly at the fireplace, but when she looks a little to the side, she can see a dimly glowing spot.The best explanation for this is that:
A)dark adaptation occurs faster outside the fovea
B)rods produce more retinal disparity
C)cones provide better acuity
D)rods are more sensitive to light than cones

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is the result of the distribution of rods and cones in the retina. Cones are more densely packed in the fovea, which provides better acuity and color vision, but they are not as sensitive to light as rods. Rods are more sensitive to light, but not as good at providing detailed visual information. Therefore, when Dana looks directly at the fireplace, she is using her cones, which do not pick up the dimly glowing spot. But when she looks to the side, she is using her peripheral vision, which includes more rods and allows her to see the dimly glowing spot.

Dana Sees No Glowing Embers When She Looks Directly at the Fireplace