Brian Hua

Light intensity verses distance Prac. Report

Aim:To model the inverse square law for light intensity and distance from the source.
Hypothesis:As the distance from the light globe increases the light intensity will be
proportional to the inverse distance squared.
Equipment:Transformer, Retort Stand, Wires, Light Globe, Data logger and a light
meter
Method:
1. Set up the equipment as shown in the diagram.

2. Turn on the transformer and ensure it is set to DC power.

3. Record the initial light intensity at a distance of 5cm.

4. Move the retort stand an additional 5cm away from the light meter and record
the result.
5. Move the retort stand away in increments of 5cm and record the result each
time.
6. Graph the results.
7. Analyse the graph by comparing the light intensity at two different distances
and seeing it confirms the inverse square law.
Diagram:

Results:
Distance (cm)
5
10
15
20
25
30

Light Intensity (lux)

1.01
0.53
0.23
0.14
0.10
0.07

Brian Hua

35

Good clear
section! Good job!

0.06

results

Discussion:
The graph indicates that there is a decrease in intensity which is caused by a
decrease in 1/d2 distance, hence as the amount of metres from the light increased, the
Lux decreased. Since, 1/d2 takes the reciprocal of the distance squared, an increase in
distance would mean a decrease in 1/d2 so an increase in distance will result in a
decrease in light intensity. This is clearly displayed as the light intensity rapidly
decreased as the distance was increased, in fact the intensity dropped by more than
half after increasing the distance by 5cm from an initial 5 cm. We can see that the
light intensity drops by a factor of four as the distance was doubled from the initial
5cm.
The independent variable of the experiment was the distance at which the light meter
was to the light source in which this case was a light globe. The dependent variable is
the light intensity that was measured by the light meter that was connected to a data
logger. The experiments controlled variable was the same light globe with the same

Brian Hua

power was used, the environmental/background lighting was kept the same and the
same light meter was used to measure the intensity. However, the validity of the
experiment couldve been improved by zeroing the light meter with the rooms normal
light level due to the room not being completely dark. Overall, the experiment can be
considered valid due to the experiment displaying results consistent with the inverse
square law.
The experiment is not reliable as the experiment was only performed once using the
same equipment. It could be made reliable by repeating the same method using a
different light globe and light meter. If the experiment is indeed reliable the general
trend in results should be consistent albeit having different potentially different
values. But since the experiment wasnt repeated it is deemed unreliable.
The experiment is not 100% accurate since the results taken didnt perfectly correlate
with the inverse square law. The accuracy of the measurements couldve been
improved by using more sensitive equipment such as a machine that electronically
measures distance or a more sensitive light meter. Another reason why the results
may not be accurate is due to it not being a perfect experimental set up. The light
meter wasnt calibrated with the background lighting there and the room wasnt
completely void of light without the lamp.

Conclusion:
The inverse square law states that the intensity of illumination is proportional to the
inverse square of the distance from the light source and is represented by the formula
I = 1/d2, where I represents light intensity and d represents distance from the light
source. The results that were collected and graphed above indicates (although not
perfectly) that a decrease in intensity, results in a decrease in 1/d2 and is a visual
representation of the proportional relationship between intensity and 1/d 2.
This means that an object twice as far away, receives a one quarter of the energy, a
distance 3 times as far receives a one ninth of the energy and so on.