How does refraction take place in the at | Class 10 Science Chapter The Human Eye and the Colourful World, The Human Eye and the Colourful World NCERT Solutions

Current NCERT chapter

Academic session 2026-27, Chapter 10 in the current curriculum.

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science - Chapter The Human Eye and the Colourful World. This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Exercise 0, Question 30:

How does refraction take place in the atmosphere? Why do stars twinkle but not the planets?

. With detailed answers and explanations for each chapter, students can strengthen their understanding and prepare confidently for exams. Ideal for CBSE and other board students, this resource will simplify your study experience.

Question 30:

How does refraction take place in the atmosphere? Why do stars twinkle but not the planets?

Answer:

When the ray of light enters a glass prism, it bends because of the refraction of light. The light deviates from its original path because of the unique shape of the prism. Every coloured band has different speed and contains different angles of deviation. And then it will lead to the appearance of a band of seven colours which are the components of the white light. The various colours are seen- violet, Indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red and the acronym will be VIBGYOR.

Stars twinkling appear due to the atmospheric refraction of the starlight. When the starlight enters on the earth surface, refraction undergoes continuously with gradual changes in refractive index before it reaches the earth surface. The atmospheric physical condition does not remain stationary, the apparent position (when the star is slightly different from its original position) of the stars will also not be stationary. When the refractive index changes continuously due to which path of the light rays from the stars keeps on changing the path continuously. As the path of rays of light that comes from the stars, goes on varying slightly. The apparent position of the stars fluctuates and the starlight enters the eye- sometimes the star may appear brighter, and sometimes this effect is known as the twinkling effect.

Planets do not twinkle because they are very much closer to the earth in the comparison of stars and appear large to the human eyes. Thus, the planet can be seen as extended sources. When the light ray comes to our eyes from all the individual extended sources are constant. And there is no shifting occurs, so planets do not seem to twinkle.


Study Tips for Answering NCERT Questions:

NCERT questions are designed to test your understanding of the concepts and theories discussed in the chapter. Here are some tips to help you answer NCERT questions effectively:

  • Read the question carefully and focus on the core concept being asked.
  • Reference examples and data from the chapter when answering questions about The Human Eye and the Colourful World.
  • Review previous year question papers to get an idea of how such questions may be framed in exams.
  • Practice answering questions within the time limit to improve your speed and accuracy.
  • Discuss your answers with your teachers or peers to get feedback and improve your understanding.

Latest Blog Posts

Stay updated with our latest educational content and study tips

How to Return to Work After a Career Break: Skills, Jobs and Preparation in 2026

It’s not about starting over if you took a break to care for children, take care of yourself, be healthy or for any other reason. This is a realistic strategy for the recovery of skills, selection of the right job, and overcoming the resume problem. One year, three years or 10 years of a career … Read more

Read More

Best Career Options After Class 12 for Average Students in 2026

There’s no need to score 95% or achieve a JEE/NEET rank. You don’t need to score 95% or rank in JEE/NEET to build a solid career. A candid and pragmatic guide to the routes that actually work for students who have an average mark and what to do when faced with the options. ​ If … Read more

Read More

Coaching vs Self-Study: Which is Best in 2026 for Competitive Exams?

AI tools, online platforms that are much cheaper than coaching centres and the changing idea of what “structure” even means have upended this argument more in the past two years than in the decade preceding it. Here’s what is really the case for 2026 – and what has actually stayed the same. If you look … Read more

Read More

Career Change After 30: How to Transition from Non-Tech to IT or Data Science

Starting to make a new career after 30 isn’t a start from scratch. Marketing, teaching, financial, retail, healthcare, sales and other professionals can pursue careers in technology by applying the existing knowledge and skills they have acquired to new technology skills. There are various ways to enter the technology industry, such as in IT support, … Read more

Read More

Related Student Tools

Add Comment

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science - Chapter . This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Excercise 0 , Question 30: How does refraction take place in the atmosphere? Why do stars twinkle but not the planets?....

Ask a Question
Keep learning

Discover More on SaralStudy

Explore all articles