Why is light attenuation not linear?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the exponential decrease of light transmission through a solution as described by the Beer-Lambert law. This law establishes that the absorbance of light is logarithmically related to the concentration of the absorbing compound, rather than linearly. The key takeaway is that as the concentration of the absorbing substance increases, the amount of light transmitted decreases exponentially due to the nature of light absorption interactions at the molecular level.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Beer-Lambert law
  • Basic knowledge of light absorption principles
  • Familiarity with exponential functions
  • Concept of proportionality in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Beer-Lambert law in detail
  • Explore the concept of exponential decay in physics
  • Investigate light-matter interactions at the molecular level
  • Learn about applications of the Beer-Lambert law in spectroscopy
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students in physics, chemistry, and anyone interested in understanding light absorption phenomena, particularly in the context of solutions and spectroscopy.

DocMorris
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I was wondering why light transmission through a solution decreases exponentially and not linear with the concentration of the absorbing compound in solution. I know the Beer-Lambert law, but I do not really understand the reason for this logarithmic rather than linear dependence. Can anyone explain this in simple words using examples a non-physicist can understand? :)Many thaks in advance.
 
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If there is less light, there is less absorption.
Both are proportional to each other.
 

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