Inverse Square Law Formula:
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The Inverse Square Law states that the intensity of light is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. This principle applies to various physical phenomena including illumination, sound, and gravitational forces.
The calculator uses the Inverse Square Law formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how light intensity decreases as the distance from the source increases, following the inverse square relationship.
Details: Accurate luminance calculation is crucial for lighting design, photography, vision science, and various engineering applications where proper illumination levels are required.
Tips: Enter intensity in candela and distance in meters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: Why does light intensity follow the inverse square law?
A: Because light spreads out uniformly in all directions from a point source, covering an area that increases with the square of the distance.
Q2: What are typical luminance values?
A: Luminance values vary widely - from 0.0001 lux for starlight to over 100,000 lux for direct sunlight.
Q3: Does this law apply to all light sources?
A: The law applies perfectly to point sources. For extended sources, the relationship becomes more complex.
Q4: What are the limitations of this calculation?
A: The calculation assumes ideal conditions - point light source, no atmospheric absorption, and uniform distribution.
Q5: How is this used in practical applications?
A: Used in lighting design, photography exposure calculations, safety standards for illumination, and scientific measurements.