How would someone see light from something like a flashlight in a tunnel?

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    Light Reflection
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding how light from a flashlight behaves in a tunnel, particularly in the context of graphics programming. Participants explore the implications of light reflections, including diffuse and specular reflections, and their relevance to simulating realistic environments in graphical applications.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks to understand how light rebounds in a tunnel and its application to graphics programming, specifically regarding puddles and copper connectors.
  • Another participant questions the relevance of puddles in the context of light behavior and suggests that diffuse and specular reflections require different treatments.
  • There is a suggestion that ray tracing applications could assist in simulating light behavior, but clarity on the original question is needed.
  • A participant notes that a tunnel with a matte black wall would only allow direct light from the flashlight to reach an observer, while reflective walls could create multiple images due to specular reflections.
  • Some participants recommend that the original poster consider seeking advice from a graphics forum, as the physics involved in graphical ray tracing may differ from real-world light behavior.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relevance of puddles and the best approach to simulating light behavior in graphics programming. There is no consensus on the original poster's intent or the most appropriate forum for their questions.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for clarity regarding the original poster's goals and the specific aspects of light behavior they wish to simulate. The discussion reflects uncertainty about the application of physics principles in the context of graphics programming.

AI_Messiah
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TL;DR
Light Refraction
What I mean is that how would someone see light from something like a flashlight in a tunnel? The idea of light rebounding like a ball against a wall I do understand. What I would like to apply this to is graphics programming. the objects that I would simulate this for are puddles on the floor and copper connectors. The puddles are quite thin of course. I thought since I would ask for a physics answer I would not go to a graphics forum.
 
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Where do puddles factor in?
 
DaveC426913 said:
Where do puddles factor in?
Diffuse and specular reflections need different treatment.

There are many ray tracing apps that can do this for you.
 
sophiecentaur said:
Diffuse and specular reflections need different treatment.

There are many ray tracing apps that can do this for you.
Sure, I'm just trying to figure out what the OP is trying to achieve - or even ask. What does a flashlight in a tunnel have to do with specular reflections for example?

And what do they mean by "I would simulate this"? Are they writing their own rendering engine? If not, why these questions?

We need clarity.
 
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DaveC426913 said:
What does a flashlight in a tunnel have to do with specular reflections for example?
A tunnel with a matt black wall would be the most trivial case with only light directly from the flashlight reaching the observer. Very reflective walls would produce many images of the lamp (as in a kaleidoscope) due to the specular reflections. A mixture of the two could be well worth simulating if you wanted an appearance of reality in a game or demo.
 
AI_Messiah said:
I thought since I would ask for a physics answer I would not go to a graphics forum.
Honestly, I would recommend going to a graphics forum (or programming forum), as graphical ray tracing is a very specialized process that is handled somewhat differently than you might expect. Namely that rays are often calculated as being emitted from the camera and traveling to various parts of the scene, which is reverse from the way that real light works.
 
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Drakkith said:
Honestly, I would recommend going to a graphics forum
Agreed. A graphics forum would help you to select the appropriate bits of Physics to get the job done. PF could flood you with stuff that's not needed for your requirements.
 

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