Light in vacuum and inverse square law

In summary, light travels in a vacuum at a constant speed of approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. This speed is independent of the light's frequency or wavelength. The inverse square law states that the intensity of light decreases with the square of the distance from its source. This means that the further away an object is from a light source, the dimmer the light will appear. This law is applicable to all forms of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light. It is a fundamental principle in understanding how light behaves and is essential in many areas of science, such as astronomy and photography.
  • #1
tris_d
162
0
Does inverse square law apply to light in vacuum?

420px-Inverse_square_law.svg.png
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #3
DaleSpam said:
Yes.

Thanks. I tried to google but I couldn't confirm it, and Wikipedia does not mention it in either "photon" or "light" articles. Would you know what should I google for so I can find some references about it?
 
  • #6
tris_d said:
Just went there for the picture, and was stupid enough not to read it. Funny!

Please note that if you took something from another source, you must attribute it to that source, or else you are stealing something! Worse still, some of these things might be copyrighted, and WE might get into a whole of trouble without making at least proper references to the sources.

Besides, it is just good practice (and manners) to give credit where credit it due.

Zz.
 

1. What is light in vacuum?

Light in vacuum refers to the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum or empty space. In this state, light travels at a constant speed of approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.

2. What is the inverse square law?

The inverse square law is a principle in physics that states that the intensity of a physical quantity, such as light, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. In other words, as the distance from the source increases, the intensity decreases by a factor of the square of the distance.

3. How does the inverse square law apply to light in vacuum?

Since light travels in a straight line from its source, the intensity of light in a vacuum follows the inverse square law. This means that as the distance from the source increases, the intensity of light decreases according to the square of the distance.

4. What are the practical applications of the inverse square law for light in vacuum?

The inverse square law is essential in understanding the behavior of light and its effects on various systems. It is used in fields such as photography, astronomy, and engineering to calculate light intensity, design lighting systems, and determine the distance of objects from a light source.

5. How does the inverse square law affect the brightness of a light source?

The inverse square law states that the intensity of light decreases by a factor of the square of the distance from the source. This means that the further away an object is from a light source, the dimmer it will appear. For example, the brightness of a light bulb decreases significantly as you move away from it.

Similar threads

Calculating distance between lux meter and light source
    • Optics
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Electricity and Magnetism: Verifying the Inverse Square Law
    • Electromagnetism
Replies
3
Views
747
A Calculating the optical depth of an inhomogeous gas
    • Optics
Replies
1
Views
873
B How to build a simple polarization filter
    • Optics
Replies
11
Views
364
B Coulumb's Law at 1 light year distance
    • Electromagnetism
Replies
8
Views
991
I Sound pressure and inverse distance law
    • Mechanics
Replies
5
Views
1K
B Proof of inverse square law for gravitation?
    • Mechanics
Replies
18
Views
1K
I Physical approximation to inverse square law using magnet(s)
    • Electromagnetism
Replies
12
Views
364
I Inverse Square Law for Black Holes
    • Special and General Relativity
Replies
32
Views
1K
Inverse Square Law with Half Value Layers for X-Rays
    • Optics
Replies
3
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top