Experiment 406:

Photometry

Charl Joseph B. Santiago, PHY13L/A4

charljosephsantiago@gmail.com

Abstract

Experiment 406 is all about the study of visual radiation or spectrum of light called as
Photometry. By using Inverse Square Law and Polarization method, we were able to explore
two interesting phenomena of light. According to the results we gathered, the two sides of the
orange indicator in photometer appear equal in color and brightness as the transmittance and
the distance of Light Source 2 decreases. Thus, light intensity is inversely proportional to the
square of the distance from a point light source and it transmitted through two polarizers
depends on the square of the cosine of the angle between the axes of the two polarizers.

Key Words: Photometry, Inverse Square Law, Polarization

Introduction

The experiment is all about photometry where in it deals with the visual radiation or
the visual spectrum of light. The human eye is not equally sensitive to all wavelengths of visible
light. Photometry attempts to account for this by weighing the measured power at each
wavelength with a factor that represents how sensitive the eye is at that wavelength. Photometry
invloes the measurement of luminous intensity, luminous flux, illumination and other
photometric quantities. [1]

Photometry has two types of measurement, the measurement in luminous quantities and
the measurement of the radiant quantities. In order to measure luminous quantities, we need to
rely on our human eye. On the other hand, in order to measure radiant quantities, we need to
rely on the use of photoelectric devices to measure electromagnetic energy. But in this
experiment, we only study the first type of measurement using inverse square law and
polarization.

Inverse Square Law

In photometry, luminous intensity is a measure of the wavelength-weighted power

emitted by a light source in a particular direction per unit solid angle, based on the luminosity
function, a standardized model of the sensitivity of the human eye. The light from a point light
source spreads out uniformly in all directions wherein all points with the same distance, r, from
the source obtains radiant energy at the same time.

The light intensity does not remain constant while a point source radiates light
uniformly in all directions since the farther way from the source, the weaker the intensity of
light gets. Since the source is radiating light uniformly in all directions, the intensity at a given
distance from the light will be equal to the power output of the light divided by the surface area
of the sphere through which the light has spread.
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 With constant power output, light density is then given by

𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝐼= (1)
𝑟2

Thus, the ratio of the intensity (I) of the light at a position (r) as compared to the
reference intensity (I0) measured at a position (r0) is given by

𝐼1 𝑟22
= (2)
𝐼2 𝑟12

Polarization

As studied before, light is an electromagnetic wave that has electric field and magnetic
field components which are perpendicular to each other. Polarization of light are light waves
in which the vibrations occur in a single plane. A polarizer only allows light which is vibrating
in a particular plane to pass through it. This plane forms the “axis” of polarization. Unpolarized
light vibrates in all planes. Thus if unpolarized light is incident upon an “ideal” polarizer, only
half will be transmitted through the polarizer, and the transmitted light is polarized in one plane.
[3]

In the real world, there is no such thing as ideal polarizer and less than half the light is
transmitted. If this polarized light is incident upon a second polarizer, the axis of which is
oriented perpendicular to the plane of polarization of the incident light, no light will be
transmitted through the second polarizer as in the Figure 1.

Fig. 1. The two polarizers are perpendicular to each other. [3]

However, if the second polarizer is oriented at an angle that is not perpendicular to the
first polarizer, there will be some component of the electric field of the polarized light that lies
in the same direction as the axis of the second polarizer, and thus some light will be transmitted
through the second polarizer as in the Figure 2.

Fig. 2. The two polarizers are parallel to each other. [3]

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 The component of the polarized electric field, E0 is given by

𝐸 = 𝐸0 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 (3)

Since the intensity of the light varies as the square of the electric field, the transmitted
light intensity is given by

𝐼 = 𝐼0 cos2 𝜙 (4)

where I0 is the incident light intensity and 𝜙 is the angle between the axis of polarization
of the incident light and the polarizer.

If the angle 𝜙 between the axes of the first and second polarizer is between 0 degrees
and 90 degrees, some of the light will be transmitted through the second polarizer. The angle
between the first and second polarizers is expressed as

𝐼
𝜙 = √ 𝐼1 (5)
2

Methodology

To start with this experiment, we were given 1 piece of optical bench, 2 pieces of light
source, as shown in Figure 3. We were also given 1 piece of photometer with base, 1 set of
neutral density filters, and 2 pieces of polarizers with accessory holder, as shown in Figure 4.
Before we begin the experiment, we were given precautions that we must be careful of the
plastic mounts and holders as they are easily damaged. Also we must be sure to plug in the
light sources at the right voltage and to keep the lights turned off to facilitate measurement. [2]

Fig. 2. The optical bench and light source used in Experiment 404.

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 Fig. 3. The neutral density filters and photometer used in Experiment 404.

1. Inverse Square Law

In the first part of the experiment, as shown in Figure 4, the light sources will serve as
a point source. We were instructed to place the two light sources at the 10-cm mark, for Light
Source 1, and at the 90-cm mark, for Light Source 2, on the optics bench. After that, we place
the photometer with the neutral density filter at the 50-cm mark on the optics bench facing
Light Source 2.

Fig. 4. The set-up in the “Inverse Square Law”.

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 We then adjust the neutral density filter to 100% transmittance and turn on the light
sources. We look into the eyepiece of the photometer as the position of Light Source 2 slowly.
As soon as the two sides of the orange indicator appear equal in color and brightness, record
the position of Light Source 2 and compare it to that of Light Source 1 using the Inverse Square
Law. We also found out the 75% transmittance, 50% transmittance, and 25% transmittance by
repeating the procedure but in this way around, we placed Light Source 1 at the 5-cm mark.

2. Polarization

In the second part of the experiment, as shown in Figure 5, we placed Light Source 1
at the 10-cm mark, Light Source 2 at the 90-cm mark, and the photometer at the 50-cm mark
such that the side with the neutral density filters is facing Light Source 2. After which, we
placed the polarizers between the Light Source 1 and the photometer such that the angle
between their axes is zero, we then turn on the two light sources and look into the eyepiece of
the photometer. We moved Light Source 1 closer to the photometer until both sides of the
photometer have the same brightness and color. We observed and adjust the polarizers such
that the angle between their axes is 90 degrees, such that the one of the polarizers slowly
rotating, and such that the angle between the axes of the polarizers back to zero. After
observing, we adjust the neutral density filters for 75% transmittance and slowly increase the
angle between the axes of the polarizers until the two sides of the orange indicator in the
eyepiece appear equal in color and brightness. We then record the angle and calculate for its
percent error.

Fig. 5. The set-up “Polarization”.

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 Results and Discussion

1. Inverse Square Law

The data we obtained in Table 1 shows that the intensity at a given distance, r, from the
light will be equal to the light source divided by the surface area of the sphere through which
the light has spread. Based on our result, as the transmittance decreases its level, the distance
of Light Source 2 needed to make the two sides of the orange indicator in the eyepiece equal
in color and brightness decreases.

Table 1. The gathered data in “Inverse Square Law”

𝑰 𝒓𝟐
𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝟐 𝒓𝟐 = √ 𝟏 𝟏 % 𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓
𝑰𝟐
100% (𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 30.00 cm 30.00 cm 0.00 %
75% (0.75𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 25.00 cm 25.98 cm 3.77 %
𝑟1 = 30 𝑐𝑚
50% (0.50𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 20.50 cm 21.21 cm 3.35 %
25% (0.25𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 15.50 cm 15.00 cm 3.33 %
100% (𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 44.00 cm 45.00 cm 0.00 %
75% (0.75𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 40.50 cm 38.47 cm 3.93 %
𝑟1 = 45 𝑐𝑚
50% (0.50𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 33.00 cm 31.80 cm 3.77 %
25% (0.25𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 23.00 cm 22.50 cm 2.22 %

2. Polarization

The data we obtained in Table 2 shows that there will be less light as the two polarizers
are perpendicular to each other. As we observed, the intensity of light at 0 degrees of the two
sources has the same brightness, while the intensity of light at 90 degrees of the source 1 is
darker than source 2. Also, the intensity of light of source 1, as polarizers are rotated, is
changing.

Table 2. The gathered data in “Polarization”

𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒔
𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝟎° 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝟗𝟎°
𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅.
𝑠1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠2 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠1 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓
100%
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑠2 𝑠1 𝑖𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝑰𝟏
𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝝓 𝝓 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 √ % 𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓
𝑰𝟐
75% (0.75𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 30 ° 30 ° 0.00 %
50% (0.50𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 43 ° 45 ° 4.44 %
25% (0.25𝐼2 = 𝐼1 ) 55 ° 60 ° 8.33 %

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 Conclusion

In this experiment, we were able to familiarize with basics of photometry and explore
the phenomenon of light using inverse square law and polarization. As we found out in this
experiment, photometry is the visual spectrum of light in which two measurements are done.
The first type of measurement relies on the human eye to perform the measurement since it has
luminous quantities, while the second type of measurement relies on the use of photoelectric
devices to measure electromagnetic energy since it has radiant quantities. In the experiment,
we found out that we can measure luminous quantities using inverse square law wherein the
light from a point light source spreads out uniformly in all directions. We also found out that
we can also measure luminous quantities using polarization since a polarizer only allows light
which is vibrating in a particular plane to pass through it. And as observed in the experiment,
the locations of the light sources with respect to the photometer affect the result of the
experiment when the distance of the light source and the photometer is increased and the radius
also increases. Also, the neutral density filter and polarizer used in the experiment are used to
alter light intensity. The neutral density filter serves as tints because we have observed that
they have a rate of density while the polarizers just simply polarizes the light waves’ direction
and just to keep it to one direction.

References:
Book
[1] Halliday, Resnik, Walker, Principles of Physics. 9th ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. USA
(2011)

Manual
[2] Benzon, AM, Index of Refraction. Physics Lab Manual, 62-69 (2014)

Others
[3] http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/110733.pdf