If the size of the hole of a pinhole camera is increased, the image formed becomes

Analyze the question: We want to know what happens to the image in a pinhole camera when the aperture (hole) is made bigger.

Concept:

• A pinhole camera forms an inverted image because light travels in straight lines through a tiny hole.
• With a very small hole, each point on the object sends essentially one narrow ray through the hole to one point on the screen. The result is a sharp but dim image.
• With a larger hole, each point on the object sends a cone of light through the hole. That cone lands on the screen as a small patch (a circle of light) instead of a single point. Neighbouring patches overlap, so the image becomes blurred.
• A larger hole also lets more light in, so the image becomes brighter.

Step by step:

1. Bigger hole → more light energy enters → image is brighter.
2. Bigger hole → each object point becomes a bigger spot on the screen → overlapping spots → image is blurred (less sharp).
3. Image size: the size of the image depends on the distance between the hole and the screen, and the object distance (magnification = image distance / object distance). Changing the hole size does not change these, so the image is not made truly larger. The overall outline only looks slightly bigger because of the blur at the edges.

Checking the options:

• A. brighter and blurred: matches our reasoning.
• B. brighter and larger: the image size doesn't really change.
• C. brighter and sharper: wrong, because sharpness decreases.
• D. blurred and duller: wrong, because more light means brighter, not duller.
• E. blurred and larger: wrong, because the image is not meaningfully larger, and it is brighter, not duller.

Correct answer: A. brighter and blurred

Exam tip: Remember the trade-off: small hole = sharp but dim; big hole = bright but blurry. The same idea applies to camera apertures and to the pupil of the eye. Whenever the hole gets bigger, think "more light, less sharpness."