ILLUMINATION

An observable property and effect of light, may also refer to:

>Lighting, the use of light sources

>Illumination (image), the use of light and shadow in art

FOOT CANDLE
a foot candle is a measurement of light intensity and is defined
as the illuminance on a one-square foot surface from a uniform
source of light.

The term foot-candle is somewhat archaic, but it is gaining popularity

in many areas, particularly with indoor gardening. This is due to
several factors, including the fact that watts and lumens do not
actually tell an indoor gardener how much light is being delivered to
the plants being grown.

Most of us are accustomed to choosing light bulbs based on wattage –

a 60W bulb should emit X amount of light. We know this based on
experience with that particular wattage. However, wattage is not a
measure of light emission; it’s a measure of energy consumption by the
bulb. Replacing a 60W incandescent bulb with a 60W LED or T5 bulb
would actually generate a significantly greater amount of light.
Because foot-candles measure the amount of light provided to a
specific amount of space, this unit of measurement is actually better
suited for indoor gardening than other options, including lumens or
lux. Really, one foot-candle equates to a single lumen per square
foot of surface space. Based on this knowledge, indoor gardeners can
extrapolate how many candle-feet of light output they will need for
their space.

With the right foot-candle rating in terms of light output, you can
ensure that you’re providing your plants with the optimal light
levels for growth and health.

INCADESCENT LIGHT BULB

The incandescent light bulb or lamp is a source of electric light that
works by incandescence, which is the emission of light caused by
heating the filament. They are made in an extremely wide range of
sizes, wattages, and voltages.

An incandescent bulb typically consists of a glass enclosure

containing a tungsten filament. An electric current passes through
the filament, heating it to a temperature that produces light.

Incandescent light bulbs usually contain a stem or glass mount

attached to the bulb's base which allows the electrical contacts to
run through the envelope without gas/air leaks. Small wires
embedded in the stem support the filament and/or its lead wires.

The enclosing glass enclosure contains either a vacuum or an inert

gas to preserve and protect the filament from evaporating.

Incandescent bulbs require no external regulating equipment, have a

very low manufacturing cost, and work well on either alternating
current or direct current. They are also compatible with control
devices such as dimmers, timers, and photo sensors, and can be used
both indoors and outdoors. As a result, the incandescent lamp is
widely used both in household and commercial lighting, for portable
lighting such as table lamps, car headlamps, and flashlights, and for
decorative and advertising lighting.

Many incandescent bulbs are scheduled to be phased out of production

by 2014
Advantages & Disadvantages of
Incandescent Light Bulbs

Advantages
 Good for lighting small areas.
 Cheap for the consumer.
 No toxic materials are present.
 Safe to handle.
 Fast on time.
 No flicker.

Disadvantages
 Not energy Efficient.
 Not good for large areas.
 Low lifespan compared to other light bulbs.

FLOURESCENT LAMPS
The fluorescent lamp is a major advancement and a commercial
success in small-scale lighting since the original tungsten
incandescent bulb. These bulbs are highly efficient compared to
incandescent bulbs. Fluorescence is the phenomenon in which
absorption of light of a given wavelength by a fluorescent molecule
is followed by the emission of light at longer wavelengths.

A fluorescent bulb consists of a glass tube with a phosphorus

coating, a small amount of inert gas (usually argon or krypton),
mercury, and a set of electrodes. Contact points on the outside of the
tube carry electricity into the bulb.

Fluorescent lamps are about 2 to 4 times as efficient as incandescent

lamps at producing light at the wavelengths that are useful to
humans. Thus, they run cooler for the same effective light output. The
bulbs themselves also last a lot longer—10,000 to 20,000 hours
versus 1,000 hours for a typical incandescent.

Fluorescent lights need ballasts (devices that control the

electricity used by the unit) for starting and for circuit protection.
Ballasts require energy, and for some type of ballasts, efficiency is
only achieved if the fluorescent lamp is left on for long periods of
time without frequent on-off cycles.

ADVANTAGES OF FLUORESCENT LAMPS

1. More energy efficient than incandescent lamps: When compared to
incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps can produce the same amount
of light or lumens using lesser energy input. Residential and
commercial grade fluorescent tubes and bulbs, including compact
fluorescent lamps or CFL bulbs, can produce 50 to 100 lumens per
watt. Meanwhile, a typical incandescent bulb produces 16 lumens per
watt. This advantage translates to energy efficiency than in turn,
leads to reduced electricity consumption and cost.

2. Longer operational lifespan: Another advantage of fluorescent

lamps over is their lifespan. A typical fluorescent bulb will last 10
to 20 times longer than an incandescent bulb. Specifically,
fluorescent lamps have an operational lifespan of 6000 to 15000
hours while incandescent lamps only have 1000 hours. Due to their
longer operational duration, one of the notable benefits of using
fluorescent lamps involve reduced time and cost associated with
replacement and maintenance.

3. Better light diffusions and distribution: Fluorescent lamps are

bigger light sources than incandescent lamps. Furthermore, most
fluorescent bulbs or tubes readily diffuse light that results in
better distribution of illumination within a particular area. In
contrast, incandescent lamps are smaller light sources, and they
produce undiffused light as evident from glares and uneven
illumination.
4. Less heat emission: Incandescent lamps generate too much excessive
heat because they consume too much energy input. Hence, another
advantage of fluorescent lamps is less heat emission due to their
efficient energy consumption. Typical fluorescent bulbs such as CFLs
convert of 22 percent energy input to visible light while incandescent
lamps only use 5 percent of energy input to produce visible light and
the remaining 95 percent is converted into heat. This advantage
translates further to other benefits such as comfort and reduced
cost from air conditioning and ventilation.

DISADVANTAGES OF FLUORESCENT LAMPS

1. More expensive: Fluorescent lamps are relatively more expensive
than incandescent lamps because they are more complicated to
manufacture. However, considering their energy efficiency and
lifespan, they are arguably more economical in general. Note that
LED lamps are more expensive, but their price is expected to go down
near the level of fluorescent lamps due to better manufacturing
processes and increasing demand.

2. Health and environmental issues: A notable disadvantage of

fluorescent lamps involves susceptibility to chemical leakage that
can contaminate the environment and affect the health of exposed
organisms, including humans. A broken bulb can lead to leakage of a
small amount of mercury. Aside from chemical hazards, fluorescent
tubes and bulbs with magnetic ballasts normally flicker. This
flickering coupled with UV emission might be problematic for
individuals who are sensitive to light, especially those with autism,
epilepsy, chronic headache, lupus, and vertigo, among others.

3. Susceptibility to degradation: Several factors can lead to

inefficiency and wear and tear of fluorescent tubes and bulbs. A
considerable limitation involves switching frequency. Lamps that are
frequently switched on and off rapidly age due to the erosion of the
electron-emitting surface of the cathodes. Operating temperature is
another limitation of fluorescent lamps. Below-freezing
temperature might render these lamps inoperable. Note that because
they emit less heat than incandescent lamps, they are unable to melt
off snow and ice build up.

4. Problems with dimming: Light fixtures based on fluorescent lamps

cannot be connected to dimmer switches made for incandescent lamps.
This is due to the physical and operational differences between these
two types of electric light. Special dimming ballasts and dimmer
switches are required to make fluorescent tubes and bulbs dimmable.

5. Not a better alternative than LED lamps: A comparison with light-

emitting diode or LED lamps will bring forth the limitations of
fluorescent lamps. Although both types of electric light are more
energy efficient and have longer lifespan than incandescent lamps,
LED lamps take these advantages to another level. For example, a
particular type of LED bulb may require 9 watts to produce 900
lumens while a CFL may require 15 watts to produce 600 lumens. LED
lamps also have an operating lifespan of 30000 to 50000 hours.

SOURCES OF LIGHT
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT

First generation – bulbs based on heating of a wire filament

(incandescent lamps) or an arc

A standard modern incandescent lamp is composed of a

glass bulb containing a coil of metal wire, such as tungsten
(W), in a vacuum. Incandescent lamps emit non-ionizing
radiation in the visible light range and do not usually emit
radiation in the ultraviolet (UV) range, except in extreme
conditions of very high power. Additionally this type of
lamp also emits invisible infra-red non-ionizing radiation
which is felt as heat.
The halogen lamp is a type of incandescent lamp filled with
a halogen gas such as iodine (I) or bromine (Br). It emits
visible light and a little UV light. As UV is ionizing radiation
that may cause, with prolonged exposure, burns and skin
cancer, prolonged close exposure to halogen lamps should
be avoided.
The carbon arc lamp comprises two tubular carbon (C)
electrodes connected to an electric voltage source in the
open air. This lamp emits visible light and also UV radiation.
Because of its high intensity it is forbidden to look at its
light source directly.

Second Generation – Gas discharge lamps

Fluorescent lighting is based on electric discharge of a gas

(mercury) leading to emission
n of high-energy photons (usually UV), that impact the
fluorescent coating of the bulb, producing visible light.

The type of radiation emitted by fluorescent tubes and

compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) includes, in addition to
visible light, a small amount of UV radiation in the UVA
range (315-380 nanometers), and even shorter wavelengths
(higher energy) in the UVC range.
Exposure to UV radiation from CFL lamps containing mercury
may be reduced by distancing the lamps from the user by 30
cm or more.

Third generation – Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lamps

A light-emitting diode (LED) consists of a semiconductor
that has undergone doping. An electric current passing
through the diode excites the atoms to high energies. When
the atoms return to lower energy levels, energy in the
form of photons in the visible light range is released.
LED lamps emit visible light and do not emit UV radiation.

NATURAL LIGHT
SUN- the major and most imperative source of natural light present on
earth is sun. The sun is the only natural source that is a massive ball
of fire in which nuclear fusions produce large amount of energy at
the center . sun is the major factor behind the light on earth which
produces heat as well.
Star- star is other factor which produces light even though the
amount of quantity that reaches the earth is small.
Moon- moon is one planet which produces light but not of its own. The
light that moon gives is the result of reflection from the sun because
moon does not have its own light

Artificial sources of light