Final answer:
The size of an image formed on the retina can be calculated using optical physics principles. Given the average print height of 3.50 mm and a reading distance of 30.0 cm, we can utilize similar triangles or the magnification equation to find the image's height on the retina.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of physics, particularly when dealing with optics, the size of an image formed on the retina can be calculated using similar triangles if the object size and distance are known. Considering that the print in many books averages 3.50 mm in height and the book is held 30.0 cm from the eye, the image size can be found using the thin lens equation or assuming a simple pinhole camera model for the eye, where the object distance (o) and image distance (i) are related to the object height (h_o) and image height (h_i).
The human eye's lens has a focal length (f) approximately equal to the image distance (i), since the retina is located at the focal point of the lens. If we assume a standard relaxed eye with a focal length of about 2.0 cm (20 mm), we can use the magnification equation, m = -i/o = h_i/h_o, to find the height of the image on the retina (h_i).