Atmospheric Extinction of Light

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the visibility range of a 2,000 candelas red light source under normal rural atmospheric conditions. Participants explore factors affecting visibility, including atmospheric composition, time of day, and environmental conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the distance at which a 2,000 candelas red light source would no longer be visible.
  • Another participant questions whether the initial assumption includes an atmosphere free of dust and particles that could absorb light.
  • A participant clarifies that they are considering a normal rural atmosphere in the western United States with low humidity and dust.
  • One participant suggests that visibility may depend on the time of day, similar to how the Sun can obscure stars.
  • Another participant notes the variability of visibility based on weather, season, and location, indicating that a specific answer requires more detailed situational information.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the factors influencing visibility, and no consensus is reached regarding a specific distance at which the light source would no longer be visible.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about atmospheric conditions, the influence of time of day, and the need for specific situational data to provide a definitive answer.

MK-IV
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
If I have a 2,000 candelas red light source under normal rural atmospheric conditions at what distance would I expect the source to no longer be visible to the eye?
 
Science news on Phys.org
Are you assuming an atmosphere that is almost completely free of dust and other particles that would also absorb the light?
 
I am assuming a normal rural atmosphere in the western United States containing dusts with a relatively low humidity component.
 
MK-IV said:
I am assuming a normal rural atmosphere in the western United States containing dusts with a relatively low humidity component.

Hrmm. I can't help you out, but hopefully someone else can.
 
MK-IV said:
If I have a 2,000 candelas red light source under normal rural atmospheric conditions at what distance would I expect the source to no longer be visible to the eye?

At first glance, it would seem that this may depend on the time of day. In the way that the Sun blinds us from stars.
 
I have no idea where to actually get sufficient data to compute this, but from visibility requirements I remember from flight training, I could tell you that the answer would vary greatly with weather, season, and location. So if you need a specific answer, you are going to have to provide more specific situation.
 

Similar threads

High School Scattering of light inside a room
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
Undergrad Spectrometer Shows More Blue light on cloudy Day....why?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Lux-meter, candelas or lux, measuring nits in practice
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Undergrad How does our brain differentiate between a source of light and a painted circle?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Undergrad Is Fluorescence Possible in Twilight?
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
3K
High School What is the Definition of a Candela?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Color and appearance of a "pile" of biological viruses
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Could the Sky Be Green Under Different Atmospheric Conditions?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad On Mixing Colors of Light
  • · Replies 207 ·
7
Replies
207
Views
15K
Undergrad Condenser lens retrofit for a lighting application
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K