01

Light
Introduction
Light is a kind of energy called electromagnetic
radiation. This form of energy is also used in x-
ray machines, microwave ovens, and radios.
The electromagnetic radiation that we can see
is called visible light.
02
Illumination
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or

aesthetic effects. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like

lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight.

Daylighting (using windows, skylights, or light shelves) is sometimes used as the

main source of light during daytime in buildings. This can save energy in place of

using artificial lighting, which represents a major component of energy

consumption in buildings. Proper lighting can enhance task performance,

improve the appearance of an area, or have positive psychological effects on

occupants.
03
Types of
Illumination
Accent lighting
Task lighting
Ambient lighting
Wall washers
Track lighting
Downlighting
04
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT
TRANSMISSION -
WAVES CAN ALSO BE TRANSMITTED AT THE
BOUNDARY BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT
MATERIALS.WHEN WAVES ARE TRANSMITTED,
THEY CONTINUES THROUGH THE MATERIAL.
AIR, GLASS AND WATER ARE COMMON
MATERIALS THAT ARE VERY GOOD AT
TRANSMITTING LIGHT. THEY ARE TRANSPARENT
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BECAUSE LIGHT IS TRANSMITTED WITH VERY

LITTLE ABSORPTION.
06 PROPAGATION -
Propagation of light refers to the
manner in which an electromagnetic
wave transfer it’s energy from one point
to another.
Three main processes generally occur
when light passes between boundaries

from one medium to another:

Transmission

Reflection

Refraction

SCATTERING -
Scattering of light is the phenomenon in
which light rays get deviated from its
straight path on striking an obstacle like
dust or gas molecules, water vapours etc.
Scattering of light gives rise to many
spectacular phenomena such as Tyndall
effect and the “red hues of sunrise and
sunset”.
07 Reflection -
WHEN A RAY OF LIGHT FALLS ON ANY
OBJECT (POLISHED, SMOOTH, SHINY
OBJECT), LIGHT FROM THAT OBJECT
BOUNCES BACK THOSE RAYS OF LIGHT
TO OUR EYES AND THIS IS KNOWN AS
“REFLECTION” OR “REFLECTION OF
LIGHT”.

Refraction -
REFRACTION IS THE BENDING OF LIGHT
(IT ALSO HAPPENS WITH SOUND, WATER
AND OTHER WAVES) AS IT PASSES FROM
ONE TRANSPARENT SUBSTANCE INTO
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ANOTHER. THIS BENDING BY REFRACTION

MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE
LENSES, MAGNIFYING GLASSES, PRISMS
AND RAINBOWS. EVEN OUR EYES DEPEND
UPON THIS BENDING OF LIGHT.
09 Dispersion
The phenomenon of splitting of visible

light into its component colours is

called dispersion. Dispersion of light is

caused by the change of speed of light

ray (resulting in angle of deviation) of

each wavelength by a different

amount.

Absorption
Light absorption is a process by which

light is absorbed and converted into

energy. An example of this process is

photosynthesis in plants. However, light

absorption doesn't occur exclusively in

plants, but in all creatures/inorganic

substances.
10
Design Considerations for Lighting
Factor # 1. Illumination Level
Factor # 2. Uniformity of Illumination
Factor # 3. Colour of Light
Factor # 4. Shadows
Factor # 5. Glare
Factor # 6. Mounting Height
Factor # 7. Spacing of Luminaries
Factor # 8. Colour of Surrounding Walls
11 1. Illumination Level:

vital factor because a sufficient illumination is
This is the most
the basic means whereby we are able to see our surroundings,
unless they are themselves light sources, since only when
illuminated do the objects take on the necessary brightness. It is
the task of illumination to give objects a distributed brightness.
Body colours have property of reflecting light in different
degrees. It is this differential brightness which gives essential
perception of details. For each type of work there is a range of
brightness most favourable to output, i.e., which causes
minimum fatigue and gives maximum output in terms of quality
and quantity.
2. Uniformity of Illumination:

itself automatically to the brightness within the field of
The human eye adjusts
vision. If there is a lack of uniformity, pupil or iris of the eye has to adjust more
frequently and thus fatigue is caused to the eye and productivity is reduced. It has
been found that visual performance is best if the range of brightness within the
field of vision is not greater than 3:1, which can be achieved by employing general
lighting in addition to localised lighting.
Apart from the consideration of causing fatigue, local lighting without using
matching general lighting creates psychological feeling of loneliness, gloom and
unfriendliness. The modern trend is thus towards ‘localised lighting plus general
lighting’ and towards the adoption of “general lighting oriented towards the
working surface” especially in mass production factories, offices, drawing offices,
shops etc.
3. Colour of Light:

of the body colour entirely depends upon the colour of the
The appearance
incident light. In general the composition of the light should be such that the
colour appears natural, i.e., its appearance by artificial light is not appreciably
different from that by daylight. Daylight fluorescent tubes nowadays make it
possible to illuminate economically even large spaces with artificial daylight giving
good colour rendering and at sufficiently high level. For certain applications such
as street lighting, colour of light does not matter much if different components
have not to be distinguished from each other by their colours, highly efficient
discharge lamps, which cause colour distortion, can be used.
4. Shadows:

installations, formation of long and hard shadows causes fatigue to eyes
In lighting
and, therefore, is considered to be a shortcoming. Complete absence of shadows
altogether again does not necessarily mean an ideal condition of lighting
installations. Contrary, perhaps to popular opinion, a certain amount of shadow is
desirable in artificial lighting as it helps to give shape to the solid objects and
makes them easily recognised. Objects illuminated by shadowless light appear flat
and uninteresting, contours are lost, and it is difficult for the eye to form a correct
judgement of the shape of an object. However, there is one exception to this, i.e.,
in drawing offices, where we are to see flat surfaces, shadowless light is essential
otherwise shadows will hinder the work.
5. Glare:
It may
be direct or reflected, i.e., it may come directly from the light source or it
may be reflected brightness such as from a desk top, nickelled machine parts, or
calendared paper.
Direct glare from a source of light is the more common, and is more often a
hindrance to vision. A glance at the Sun proves that an extremely bright light
source causes acute eye discomfort. Light sources of far less brilliancy than the
Sun, such as the filament of an incandescent lamp, or the incandescent mantle of a
gas lamp, also cause discomfort by a direct glare. Reflected glare is a glare which
comes to the eyes as glint or reflection of the light source in some polished surface.
Toleration of bright light sources in the intermediate vicinity is made possible by
locating them at such a height as to place them above the ordinary range of vision.
Metal reflectors for industrial lighting are ordinarily provided with a skirt around
the rim of the reflector.
6. Mounting Height:

The mounting height will largely be governed by the type of the building and type
of lighting scheme employed. In the case of direct lighting, in rooms of large floor
area, the luminaries should be mounted as close to the ceiling as possible.
Lowering them not only will make the illumination less uniform, but will also bring
them more into the field of vision, thus increasing the glare, without causing an
appreciable increase in the coefficient of utilization. In the unusual case of small
rooms with high ceilings, there is something to be gained by lowering the
luminaries, but even here a better solution might be to use filament lamps with
focusing reflectors and to mount them high.
In the case of indirect and semi-indirect lighting, it would of course be desirable to
suspend the luminaries far enough down from the ceiling in order to give
reasonably uniform illumination on the ceiling. In practice this is usually taken to
mean that the length of the suspension tubes should be one-quarter to one- third
the horizontal spacing between the rows of luminaries.
7. Colour of Surrounding Walls:

room depends upon the light reflected
The illumination in any
from the walls and ceilings. White walls and ceilings reflect more
light as compared to coloured ones.
Submitted by - Abdul Ahad Khan
Submitted to - Ar. Gaurav Agarwal
2nd Year 4th Sem
Enrollment no. - 131331
NSAP