How to calculate incident light on surface with multiple orientations?

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Lets say you have a light source with a uniform beam of known intensity per meter square incident on a surface and the surface is tilted both vertically and horizontally.
The surface is on a platform and tilted directly up and the angle of incidence is 45 degrees while the platform is also rotated horizontally at 22 degrees (angle of incidence 22 degrees here?).
How to calculate the intensity? Is it just multiplying both the cosines of each angles by the intensity?
 
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Jman99 said:
Is it just multiplying both the cosines of each angles by the intensity?
A good indication of the light energy flux would be the projected area - i.e. what you suggest.
 

1. What is incident light and why is it important to calculate it on surfaces with multiple orientations?

Incident light refers to the light that falls onto a surface from a light source. Calculating incident light on surfaces with multiple orientations is crucial for various applications such as solar panel installations, architectural design to optimize natural lighting, and in photography and film for setting proper lighting. It helps in assessing how much light each part of a surface receives, which can influence energy efficiency, aesthetic outcomes, and the overall functionality of a space.

2. How do you calculate the incident light on a surface with multiple orientations?

To calculate incident light on a surface with multiple orientations, you need to consider the angle of incidence, which is the angle at which the light hits the surface relative to the normal (perpendicular) to that surface. The basic formula to calculate the incident light intensity (I) is I = I₀ * cos(θ), where I₀ is the intensity of the incoming light and θ is the angle of incidence. For surfaces with multiple orientations, you must calculate this for each orientation separately, taking into account the direction and intensity of the light source.

3. What tools or software can be used to model incident light on complex surfaces?

There are several tools and software available that can model incident light on complex surfaces. For architectural and engineering purposes, software like Autodesk Revit, Rhino with Grasshopper, and SketchUp can be used along with their respective plugins for light analysis (e.g., V-Ray, Lumion). For more scientific applications, software like MATLAB or Python with libraries such as NumPy and Matplotlib can help in creating custom simulations and analyses based on specific requirements.

4. How does the orientation of a surface affect the amount of incident light it receives?

The orientation of a surface significantly affects the amount of incident light it receives. Surfaces oriented directly towards the light source will receive more light compared to those angled away from it. The optimal orientation for maximum light exposure is often directly perpendicular to the light rays. As the angle increases between the light source direction and the normal to the surface, the intensity of incident light decreases, following the cosine of the angle of incidence.

5. What are the common challenges when calculating incident light on surfaces with multiple orientations?

Some common challenges include accurately determining the angle of incidence for complex surface geometries, dealing with varying intensities of light sources, and the influence of environmental factors like shadows cast by other objects. Additionally, reflective properties of surfaces can complicate calculations as they might reflect significant amounts of light onto other surfaces. Handling these factors requires detailed modeling and sometimes iterative calculations to reach accurate estimations.

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