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LESSON 08

Illumination

How light brightens surfaces.

Frequency1.00×
Amplitude1.00×

Illumination measures how much light falls on a surface. It depends on the source's brightness and how far away the surface is.

Luminous flux & intensity

Luminous flux (lumens) is total light emitted. Intensity (candela) is light per direction.

Inverse square law

Illumination falls off with the square of distance: E = I / d².

Key Formulas

Inverse square law
E = I / d²
E in lux

Real-life applications

  • Lighting design for classrooms
  • Photography exposure
  • Plant grow-lamps

Summary

  • Double the distance → one-quarter the illumination.

Check Yourself

Q1.If you double the distance from a light bulb, illumination on a page becomes…