Q1Biology
Question
4 marks
Write the fundamental differences between Science and Engineering by drawing a comparison between Eye and Camera.
Answer
Science analyzes nature to discover truths, while engineering synthesizes components to build useful systems; the biological eye (evolved) and the camera (engineered) embody this distinction.
- Lens - Eye: flexible crystalline lens, variable focal length via ciliary muscles. Camera: rigid glass or plastic lens, zoom by moving elements.
- Aperture - Eye: iris adjusts pupil size from 2-8 mm automatically. Camera: mechanical iris diaphragm adjusted manually or automatically.
- Image receptor - Eye: retina with 126 million photoreceptors (rods + cones) distributed non-uniformly; highest density at fovea. Camera: uniform CCD/CMOS sensor array.
- Processing - Eye: massive parallel neural processing in retina and visual cortex for edge detection, motion, colour constancy. Camera: relies on digital image processing algorithms.
- Self-repair - Eye: limited self-repair (e.g., wound healing of cornea). Camera: cannot self-repair.
- Dynamic range - Eye: adapts to a trillion-fold range of light intensities. Camera: typically 6-12 stops.