What is Photometry?
The measurement of the intensity of brightness of light that can be perceived by the human eye is called photometry. Meaning of photometry is different from radiometry. Radiometry measures the levels of optical radiations.
In 1924, the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) decided to make photometry a part of modern science. They also defined the response of the average human eye.
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The commission experimented and measured light-adapted eyes for several people and put down the data. The curve of the data revealed that people strongly responded to green color and were less sensitive to extreme ends like red and violet.
The modern photometer meaning 'is the radiant power of every wavelength', measured by a luminosity function as per the human's sensitivity to brightness.
Photometry is the science behind the measurement of light, which is perceived in terms of brightness to the human eye. It should not be confused with radiometry which refers to the measurement of radiant energy in terms of absolute power.
Photometry is a branch of science which concerns light in terms of colour which is experienced by the eye from physical stimulation that exerts influence on photons inside the eye and also the response with the brain. It is used to describe and measure the propagation of light through materials and space.
Only light having a wavelength between 360 and 800 nm is responded to by the human eye. Radiometry mainly deals with electromagnetic radiation at all frequencies and wavelengths while photometry mainly deals with visible light - part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is responsible for the stimulation of vision in the human eye.
There are Two Weighting Functions:
Photopic sensitivity function (for light conditions) and
Scotopic function (for dark conditions).
The photopic sensitivity function is used in this condition, but sometimes the scotopic sensitivity function is also used in the same way.
Meaning of Photometer
A photometer is a device that is used to measure light. The root word ''photo,'' means light. For example, photosynthesis is a word that describes how plants produce their own food by using light energy. A photon is a particle of light, a photograph is an image which is made from light-sensitive film or light-sensitive device.
A photometer is a device that measures the strength of electromagnetic radiation in the range of infrared radiation to ultraviolet radiation, including the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Usually, a photometer converts light into electric current by using a photoresistor, photomultiplier, and photodiode.
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Photometers Measure the Following Parameters
Illuminance
Light absorption
Irradiance
Reflection of light
Scattering of light
Fluorescence
Luminescence
Phosphorescene
Types of Photometry
The observer will be ready to perform photometry on an image when the image bias is subtracted and flat-fielded.To understand the meaning of photometry, one must know the types of photometry; which are:Differential, and Absolute
A. In Differential Photometry: The object under the study of differential photometry is seen beside other related comparison stars. The count for both objects are then compared to find the difference between them; this difference is used to derive the difference in brightness. In this manner, the relative brightness of the object under study as compared to another object in consideration is measured.
B. Absolute Photometry: The object under study in absolute photometry is observed without reference or comparison with any nearby star, and then the ADU count is analyzed to measure the actual brightness of the object.
Calculation of the actual brightness of an object by an absolute photometry method is much more complicated as compared to differential photometry.
Principles of Photometers
Photometers examine how light interacts with reflective materials. The array of photometers describes the working principle of photometry in different fields of study.
Some instruments use the principle of photometry to observe how light absorbs and/or reflects wavelengths.
Some instruments and devices measure light by converting it into electric current and measuring the intensity of electric current produced by the light.
There are also certain photometers that shoot white light at a surface to measure the amount of light that is reflected at the instrument.
When a light is passed through a colored solution, lights of certain wavelengths are selectively absorbed by the solution, which gives a plot of the absorption spectrum of the solution. The wavelength of light at which maximum absorption occurs is called an absorption maximum (λmax) of that solution. Some wavelengths of light are not absorbed by the solution and are transmitted through it, giving the solution its color.
Photometric instruments measure transmittance, and it is defined as the ratio of the intensity of emergent light to that of the intensity of incident light, mathematically:
Transmittance (T) = Intensity of the emergent (or transmitted) light / Intensity of the incident light
= le / lO
Transmittance is expressed in a range of 0 to 100%.
Photometry Applications
Highly sensitive photometers are used to evaluate the contrast ratios of cathode-ray tubes, flat panel displays, and liquid crystal displays.
Goniophotometers are used to characterize the contrast and luminance of flat panel displays over a huge array of angles.
Photometers are applied for speedy and accurate testing of automotive dashboards and cockpit displays.
The illuminance of theater screens, transmittance of filters, uniformity of projection systems, and reflectance of paper, ceramics, and textiles are some other common uses of photometers.
Working of Single Beam Photometer
A source produces light. The light from this source is subjected to a solution. A part of the light is observed by the solution, and the remaining part of the light is transmitted. The transmitted light falls on detectors, which produce photocurrent, which is proportional to the intensity of incident light. This photocurrent is passed through a galvanometer where readings are displayed.
The instrument is operated in the following steps:
Initially, the detector is darkened, and galvanometer reading is mechanically adjusted to zero.
Now a reference solution is kept in the sample holder.
Light is transmitted from this reference solution.
An intensity control circuit is present to adjust the intensity of light emitted by the source, in such a way that the galvanometer shows 100% transmission.
After calibration, the readings of the standard sample (Qs) and the unknown sample (Qa) are taken. The concentration of unknown samples is found using the following formula.
Qa = QS * IQ/IS
Where,
Qa = Concentration of the unknown sample,
QS = Concentration of the reference sample,
IQ = Unknown reading, and
IS = Reference reading.
Photometry is the science behind the measurement of light, which is perceived in terms of brightness to the human eye. It should not be confused with radiometry which refers to the measurement of radiant energy in terms of absolute power.
Photometry is a branch of science which concerns light in terms of colour which is experienced by the eye from physical stimulation that exerts influence on photons inside the eye and also the response with the brain. It is used to describe and measure the propagation of light through materials and space.
Only light having a wavelength between 360 and 800 nm is responded to by the human eye. Radiometry mainly deals with electromagnetic radiation at all frequencies and wavelengths while photometry mainly deals with visible light - part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is responsible for the stimulation of vision in the human eye.
FAQs on Photometry
1. What exactly is photometry in the context of Physics?
In Physics, photometry is the science of measuring light, specifically in terms of its perceived brightness to the human eye. Unlike radiometry, which measures the total radiant energy of light, photometry focuses only on the visible spectrum (wavelengths from approximately 360 nm to 800 nm) and weights the measurement according to human visual sensitivity.
2. What are the main physical quantities measured in photometry?
The primary physical quantities used to describe and measure light in photometry are:
- Luminous Intensity: The amount of light power emanating from a point source in a particular direction, measured in Candelas (cd).
- Luminous Flux: The total perceived power of light emitted from a source in all directions, measured in Lumens (lm).
- Illuminance: The total luminous flux that falls on a surface per unit area, measured in Lux (lx).
3. What is the basic working principle of a photometer?
The basic principle of a photometer is to convert light energy into a measurable electrical signal. Most photometers use a photosensitive detector like a photodiode or photoresistor. When light strikes this detector, it generates an electric current that is directly proportional to the intensity of the light. This current is then measured by a galvanometer to determine the light's brightness or illuminance.
4. How does photometry differ from radiometry?
The key difference lies in what they measure. Radiometry measures the absolute power of electromagnetic radiation across all wavelengths, expressed in units like watts. In contrast, photometry measures the power of light as perceived by the human eye, focusing only on the visible spectrum and using a sensitivity curve (luminosity function) to weigh different colours. Essentially, radiometry measures physical energy, while photometry measures visual brightness.
5. What are the two main types of photometry used for measurement?
The two main types are:
- Differential Photometry: This method measures the brightness of an object by comparing it directly to a nearby reference object (like a comparison star) with a known, stable brightness. The difference in their light measurements is used to calculate the target object's relative brightness.
- Absolute Photometry: This method measures the actual brightness of an object directly without comparing it to a reference object. It calculates the brightness based on the absolute count of light particles (photons) received by the detector, which is a more complex calculation.
6. Why is the human eye's sensitivity curve (luminosity function) so important in photometry?
The luminosity function is crucial because photometry aims to quantify light as we see it, not just as it physically exists. The human eye is not equally sensitive to all colours; it perceives green light most strongly and is less sensitive to red and violet light. The luminosity function is a standard model of this response. Photometric instruments use this curve to weight the raw energy they detect at each wavelength, ensuring the final measurement accurately reflects perceived brightness.
7. What is the difference between photometry and spectrophotometry?
While both are related to light measurement, their focus is different. Photometry measures the overall intensity or brightness of light across the entire visible spectrum, providing a single value for brightness. Spectrophotometry is more specific; it measures the intensity of light at different, individual wavelengths. It can tell you how much red, green, or blue light is present, which is essential for determining the chemical composition or concentration of substances.
8. What are some important real-world applications of photometry?
Photometry is widely used in various fields. Key applications include:
- Evaluating the brightness and contrast ratio of displays like LCDs and CRTs.
- Testing the illumination of automotive dashboards and cockpit displays for safety and visibility.
- In chemistry, to determine the concentration of substances in a solution by measuring light absorption.
- Characterising the illuminance of theatre screens and the uniformity of projection systems.
- Measuring the reflectance of materials like paper, textiles, and ceramics.
