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Physics Class Note 6

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9 views2 pages

Physics Class Note 6

Uploaded by

debnathshreosi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction

Light can be measured in several ways, depending on whether we’re looking at its
brightness, energy, or how it interacts with objects. Here are the main units used to
quantify light.

1. Luminous Flux (Lumen, lm)


Definition: Measures the total perceived power of light emitted by a source. It is how
"bright" a light appears to the human eye.
Unit: Lumen (lm)
Example: A standard 60-watt incandescent bulb emits about 800 lumens.
2. Luminous Intensity (Candela, cd)
Definition: Measures the amount of light emitted in a specific direction. Often used
to describe focused light, like a flashlight beam.
Unit: Candela (cd)
Example: A candle emits roughly 1 candela of luminous intensity.
3. Illuminance (Lux, lx)
Definition: Measures the amount of light falling on a surface. It's useful for
determining how well-lit an area is.
Unit: Lux (lx), where 1 lux = 1 lumen/m².
Example: A well-lit office has around 500 lux, while direct sunlight can be over
100,000 lux.
4. Radiant Flux (Watt, W)
Definition: The total power of electromagnetic radiation (including visible light)
emitted by a source, measured in watts. This includes light that may not be visible
to the human eye.
Unit: Watt (W)
Example: A 100-watt bulb emits 100 watts of radiant energy, but only a portion of
this is visible light.
5. Radiant Intensity (Watt per Steradian, W/sr)
Definition: Measures the power of light emitted in a specific direction, similar to
luminous intensity, but applies to all electromagnetic radiation, not just visible light.
Unit: W/sr (watt per steradian)
6. Color Temperature (Kelvin, K)
Definition: Describes the color of light, typically for artificial lighting. "Cool" light
(blueish) has a higher color temperature, while "warm" light (yellowish) has a lower
temperature.
Unit: Kelvin (K)
Example: Daylight is around 5000–6500 K, while warm indoor lighting is about
2700–3000 K.

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