We explain what natural light is, its different sources and the power of sunlight. In addition, we tell you what artificial light is.
What is natural light?
natural light It is that luminosity that comes directly or indirectly from natural sources, specifically the sun . That is why it is also known as daylight, daylight or sunlight.
In different areas of life, natural light can be used. Agriculture requires it, for example, for the photosynthesis of plants, and in architecture it is common to leave open or translucent spaces to allow its entry into the spaces, thus avoiding the need to resort to artificial lighting sources (artificial light). during the day.
The brightest sunlight has a power of around 120,000 lux (unit of the International System for measuring the level of illumination), which can drop to about 20,000 lux in the case of cloudy days at noon. This is an indication of the amount of sunlight that passes through the Earth's atmosphere, since celestial bodies receive solar radiation proportional to the distance that separates them from the star.
A curious fact is that sunlight reflected on the moon known as “moonlight,” is not usually considered daylight, although It is also a case of natural light .
Other sources of natural light are lightning, fire (as long as it is not caused by humans) and some animals endowed with bioluminescence. that is, to generate light from the surface of their bodies. However, the light from torches and candles (despite coming from fire) is not usually considered natural light, since humans have intervened in its creation.
artificial light
artificial light It is that obtained from non-natural sources, produced by humans explicitly or indirectly. . The main and most important form of artificial light is electric light, which is obtained through the management of electricity, as is the case with light from light bulbs.
In the absence of natural light, artificial light allows humans to illuminate themselves, which is essential in transit and exploration situations, or to perpetuate productive, social or intellectual activity beyond sunset.
The main sources of artificial light available are:
- electricity . Light is produced by circulating a current of electrons along a metal filament in a vacuum, that is, inside a light bulb. There are different forms of electric light, depending on the specific technology with which the bulb operates: incandescent light, cold light, LED light, halogen light, etc.
- The fire . Light is produced by subjecting some type of flammable material to controlled combustion, especially certain hydrocarbon derivatives such as kerosene, benzine, liquefied natural gas, among others. This system is the oldest known to humanity: from the torches of Antiquity to urban gas lighting during the 19th century.
- electronic screens . The backlighting of electronic screens, whether from a computer, a television or a cell phone, generates a form of white light of artificial origin. This artificial light is not usually ideal for illuminating an environment, and is capable of interrupting the circadian rhythm of the human body, delaying the arrival of sleep and producing artificial insomnia.
References
- “Daylight” on Wikipedia.
- “Natural lighting” on Wikipedia.
- “Natural and artificial lighting, types and systems” in Autopromotores.
