IEB Unit 01: Fundamentals of Illumination (06 Marks)
Important Definitions:
1) Illumination or Degree of illumination or Illuminance ( E ):
“ When a light from a hot body or luminous body fall on any surface then it becomes
visible, this phenomenon is called as illumination.
Illumination ( E ) = Luminous flux / Area
* Its unit is Lumens per square meter or Lux.
2) Sources of lights:
1) Natural source (Eg. Sun)
2) Artificial source (Eg. Different types of lamps)
3) Light (Q):
i) It is a radiant energy emitted from a hot body which produces a visual
sensation upon the human eye.
ii) It is usually denoted by ‘Q’
4) Luminous Flux ( F or Φ ):
i) It is defined as the total quantity of light energy emitted per second from a
hot body or luminous body like a lamp.
ii) It is denoted by F or Φ .
iii) its unit is Lumens (lm)
5) Luminous Intensity ( I ):
i) It is defined as the luminous flux emitted by the hot body per unit solid angle
in a given direction.
ii) It is denoted by I
iii) it is given by - Luminous Intensity (I) = d Φ/ dω
iv) its unit is Lumens per steradian or Candela (Cd)
6) Solid angle :
Consider an area ‘A’ relative to Source ‘P’. If all points on the boundary of area
‘A’ joined to source ‘P’ then a cone like shape is formed at source ‘P’. So, the angle
subtended at source ‘p’ is known as solid angle.
* It is denoted by ‘dw’
7) Plane angle:
It is subtended at a point & is enclosed by two straight line laying in the same
plane.
* It is expressed in degree or radian.
8) Lumen: Lumen is the unit of Luminous flux.
9) Lux : It is the unit of Illumination.
10) Candle Power (C.P):
The term candle power is used interchangeably with luminous intensity.
So, the candle power is defined as the luminous flux emitted by the hot body per unit solid
angle in a given direction.
11) Mean Horizontal Candle Power ( M.H.C .P ) :
It is defined as the mean of the candle power in all direction in the horizontal
plane containing the source of light.
12) Mean Spherical Candle Power ( M.S.C .P ) :
It is defined as the mean of the candle power in all direction in all plane
containing the source of light.
13) Mean Hemi-Spherical Candle Power ( M.H.S.C .P ) :
It is defined as the mean of the candle power in all direction within the
hemi sphere either above or below the horizontal plane containing the source of light.
14) Reduction Factor ( R.F ) :
It is the ratio of M.S.C .P to its M.H.C .P .
15) Lamp efficiency or luminous efficiency or efficacy ( ηlamp ) :
It is defined as the ratio of luminous flux to the input power to a lamp.
* Its unit is Lumens per watt.
16) Brightness or Luminance :
It is defined as the luminous intensity per unit projected area of either a
surface source of light or a reflected surface.
17 ) Glare :
It is a maximum brightness within the field of vision of such a character as
to cause annoyance, discomfort, interference with vision or eye fatigue .
18) Space to Height Ratio :
It is defined as the ratio of horizontal distance between the
adjacent lamp to the mounting height of lamp from working surface.
Horizontal distance between the adjacent lamp
Space to height ratio =
Mounting height of lamp from working surface.
19) Utilization Factor (U.F) :
It is defined as the ratio of total lumens reaching on the working plane to
the total lumens produced by the lamp.
* It is always less than 1.
20) Maintenance Factor (M. F) :
It is defined as the ratio of illumination under normal working condition
to the illumination when everything is perfectly clean.
* It is always less than 1.
* Because due to dirt, dust, smoke deposition on the surface of lamps,
walls & ceilings so full lumens produced by the lamp are not utilized.
21) Depreciation Factor (D.F) :
It is defined as the ratio of illumination when everything is perfectly clean
to the illumination under normal working condition.
* It is inverse of maintenance factor.
* It is always greater than 1
22) Waste Light Factor ( W.L.F) :
When so many light sources leave overlapping lights, there ought to be
wastage of light.
23) Absorption Factor :
It is defined as the ratio of total lumens available after absorption to
the total lumens emitted by the light source.
* This factor may be 0.5 too 0.6 and for clean atmosphere its value is
Unity.
24) Beam Factor ( B. F) :
This is to be considered in case of projectors where some lumens are
absorbed by reflector & front glass of projector lamp. This factor varies between 0.3 to 0.6.
25) Reflection Factor ( R.F) :
It is defined as the ratio of reflected light to the incident light.
* This Ratio is always less than unity.
Law of illumination:
There are Two law of Illumination:
1) Inverse Square law
2) Lambert Cosine law
1) Inverse Square law :
It state that “Illumination on a surface is inversely proportionally to the square of the distance
between the light source & surface to be illuminated. The distance between the light source
& surface is very very large, so that the source can be considered as a point source”.
E α I /r2 ……………. LUX
Simillary, E 1 α I / r12 & E 2 α I / r22
2) Lambert Cosine law :
It state that “ Illumination on a point on a surface is proportional to the cosine of the angle
between the normal at that point & direction of luminous flux”.
E = I /d2 cos θ
Features of Good Illumination Scheme
1. To provide adequate illumination: For different purposes, different levels of
illumination are required .
2. To avoid Glare & Hard shadows
3. To provide light of suitable colour .
4. To provide light disturbance uniformly over the working plane.
Advantages of Good Illumination Scheme
1. Good illumination scheme avoids fatigue & eye strains.
2. Good illumination scheme avoids excessive brightness, glare.
3. Good illumination scheme helps to create a pleasant atmosphere.
4. Good illumination scheme provides the light of correct colour appearance.
5. Good illumination scheme increases productivity.
6. Good illumination scheme improves moral & motivation.
7. Good illumination scheme reduces product rejects.
8. Good illumination scheme avoids accidents.
9. Good illumination scheme provide safety & security.
10. Good illumination scheme utilizes day light & blend it properly with electric light.
11. Good illumination scheme provides good lighting maintenance.
12. Good illumination scheme provides perfect illumination level.
Polar Curve
1. There are various types of lamps having different shapes & therefore the light
emitted from such lamps is not uniformly distributed in all the directions.
2. It becomes necessary therefore to know the distribution of lights in various
directions to confirm as to how the candle power or luminous intensity of a light
source varies in various directions.
3. There is a method to represents luminous intensity in all the directions by curve
known as polar curve.
4. Horizontal Candle Power : It is the curve drawn showing the distribution of candle
power on a horizontal plane about a vertical axis passing through the source of light.
The dip at 90 ⁰ due to coiled coil filament occupying an arc subtending an angle less
than 360⁰.
5. Vertical Candle Power : It is the curve drawn showing the distribution of candle
power on a vertical plane about a vertical axis passing through the source of light.
The dip at 180 ⁰ due to the position of lamp holder.
Application of Polar Curve:
1. To determine MSCP of lamp.
2. To determine MHCP of lamp.
3. To determine luminous intensity of lamp.
4. To determine illumination on a surface.
Photometry
1. t is a technique for measurement of a candle power of a light source.
2. This is the method of comparison of candle power of a light source with a standard
(known) candle power source & the experiment is carried in a dark room of which
the walls are dark black coloured walls & ceiling.
3. The dark black colour avoids reflection of light & hence error is eliminated & result
are more accurate.
Mechanism used in Photometry:
1. Photometer bench
2. Steel rods
3. Stand
4. light source of standard
candle power
5. Source under test
6. Bar strip
7. Photometer Head
• Principle of measurement:
It is based on the principle of “Inverse Square Law”.
Procedure of measurement of candle power of lamp:
1. Light source whose candle power power is to be measured & standard source are
placed at a distance apart & in between photometer is located .
2. Now these two sources are fixed at a distance apart & photometer head or screen is
moved in between the source.
3. The movement of photometer head by trial & error method is continued & stopped
at such a place that illumination at both sides of the screen is same.
4. At this position l1 = distance of standard source from photometer head &
l2 = distance of light source from photometer head.
5. This distance are read on the graduated scale.
6. The distances l1 &l2 should be noted accurately to avoids errors.
7. So, by inverse square law the candle power of the source under test is found from
the following relation.
Candle power of the source under test
=
Candle power of the standard source (S)
Explain the concept of photometry in brief. W22 (2 Marks)
Ans:
Concept of Photometry:
The measurement of the intensity of light that can be perceived by the human eye is called
photometry. Photometry is a branch of science which concerns light in terms of colour which is
experienced by the eye from physical stimulation that exerts influence on photons inside the eye
and also the response with the brain. Only light having a wavelength between 360 and 800 nm is
responded to by the human eye.
State the lighting design objectives for internal applications. W22 (4 Marks)
Ans:
Lighting Design Objectives for Internal Applications:
1. The illumination of lighting design should be comfortable to every user.
2. The lighting design scheme should be pleasant to work in operating area.
3. The lighting design scheme should be of long life.
4. The designed illumination scheme should be economical.
5. The lighting design should require less maintenance and repairs.
6. The appearance of the lighting design scheme should be good.
7. The lighting illumination scheme should be designed in such a way that there must be very less
glare effect or glare free.
8. The lighting illumination scheme must be designed in such a way that there should not be any
flickers in illumination.
9. The lighting design scheme should be of adequate and sufficient illumination levels as per the
application areas / working planes.
10. The lighting design scheme should have good overall distribution of illumination.
11. The lighting design scheme should be simple and easy to control.
12. The lighting illumination scheme must be designed considering all the safety parameters (It
must be very safe).
(i) State laws of illumination. W22 (4 Marks)
Ans:
Laws of Illumination:
Inverse Square Law of Illumination:
The Illumination of a surface is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the
surface and the light source provided that source be a point source.
The Lambert's Cosine Law:
The illumination of a surface is directly proportional to the cosine of the angle between the
normal to the surface and the direction of incident light.
Write the recommended level of illumination in lux for the following areas of an office: W22 (4
Marks)
(i) Reception (ii) Conference room (iii) Stairs
(iv) Passage (v) Inside lift (vi) Cabin of office head
Ans:
State the units used for measurement of luminous flux and illumination. S23 (2 Marks)
Luminous Flux:
Unit: Lumen (lm)
Illuminance:
Unit: Lux (lx)
State any four factors to be considered while selecting a lamp for a particular
application. S23 (4 Marks)
Selecting the right lamp for a particular application involves considering various
factors to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. Here are key factors to
consider when choosing a lamp:
Type of Lighting Fixture:
Different fixtures require specific types of lamps. For example, table lamps,
chandeliers, recessed lighting, and track lighting may have different lamp
requirements.
Brightness (Luminous Flux):
Determine the required brightness for the application. Consider the size of the space,
the tasks performed, and the desired ambiance. Luminous flux is measured in
lumens (lm).
Color Temperature:
Choose a color temperature that suits the application. Warmer temperatures (e.g.,
2700K) are often used for residential and hospitality settings, while cooler temperatures (e.g.,
5000K) are common in commercial and task lighting.
Color Rendering Index (CRI):
CRI measures how accurately a light source renders colors compared to natural
light. Higher CRI values (e.g., 80 or above) are preferable for applications where
color accuracy is crucial, such as in retail or art displays.
Energy Efficiency:
Consider the energy efficiency of the lamp. LED lamps are known for their high
efficiency and longevity, making them a popular choice for many applications.
Dimming Compatibility:
Determine whether dimming capability is required for the application. Not all lamps
are compatible with dimmer switches, so choose lamps specifically designed for
dimming if needed.
Lamp Life and Longevity:
Evaluate the expected lifespan of the lamp. LED lamps, for example, often have
longer lifespans compared to traditional incandescent or halogen lamps.
Environmental Considerations:
Consider the environmental impact of the lamp, including factors such as
recyclability and the presence of hazardous materials. LED lamps are generally
more environmentally friendly.
Cost:
Compare the initial cost of the lamp and its operational cost over its lifespan. LED
lamps may have a higher upfront cost but can result in long-term savings due to
energy efficiency and longevity.
Fitting and Base Type:
Ensure that the lamp's fitting and base type are compatible with the lighting fixture.
Common base types include E26, E27, GU10, etc.
Application Specifics:
Consider the specific requirements of the application. For example, reading or task
lighting may benefit from a focused and directional light source, while ambient
lighting may require a diffused and broader light distribution.
Regulatory Compliance:
Ensure that the selected lamp complies with relevant safety and regulatory standards
in your region. Look for certification marks such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
or CE (Conformité Européene).
Aesthetics and Design:
Consider the visual appearance of the lamp, especially if it is visible in the space.
The design and style should complement the overall aesthetics of the environment.
State the meaning of Polar curve with suitable diagram. Also give its
applications for designing lamps. S23 (6 Marks)
Meaning of Polar Curves
Polar curves are graphical representation of light intensity with respect to angular
position in horizontal or vertical plane passing through the light source.
or
The polar curves represent the distribution of light or luminous intensity of a light
source in all directions or over the surrounding surface. The polar curves are drawn
by taking luminous intensities in all directions at an equal angular displacement.
Applications of polar curve:
1. It indicates coverage of lights which helps lighting scheme.
2. To know the intensity of light emitted by the source in different direction.
