Diffusion of light is the phenomenon by virtue of which the radiations emitted by a light source are able to get dispersed evenly into the surroundings. The diffused light is spread smoothly in the environment and is not harsh in nature. The diffusion of light can be achieved naturally as well as artificially. The scattering of the light radiations obtained by the sunlight into the environment through the clouds tends to form a perfect example of the natural diffusion of light. Similarly, using a diffuse coating to externally diffuse the light is an example of artificial diffusion of light. Typically, wide sources of light are responsible for the diffusion of light; however, when a wide reflector screen is attached in front of a narrow source of light, it also becomes a light source that is capable of exhibiting diffusion of light radiations into the environment.
Examples of Diffused Light
There are various examples where the diffusion of light can be seen in real life. A few of them are listed below:
1. Cinematography
One of the prominent applications of diffusion of light can be seen in cinematography, videography, and various other related fields. The diffused light has the property by virtue of which it is capable of spreading into the surroundings evenly. This helps in the reduction of glare and harsh shadows to a significant level, thereby enhancing the photography and videography experience. The main advantage of using diffused light in cinematography is that it enables the user to create images with fine details by eliminating sharp shadows.
2. Sunlight
The light radiations emitted by the sun spread into the environment evenly with the help of the diffusion process. The fine diffusion of light can be observed better during cloudy weather.
3. Greenhouse Horticulture
The diffusion of light plays a prime role in greenhouse horticulture. The rooftop of a greenhouse consists of a diffuse coating. The main purpose of the diffuse coating is to guarantee the availability of ambient light and to make sure that the crop does not get damaged either due to the presence of excessive intensity light or due to the absence of light. This helps in the better growth of vegetables, fruits, and various other ornamental crops. The use of diffused light for horticulture is advantageous as the diffused light is capable of penetrating deeper into the crop. This helps the plant absorb more amount of carbon dioxide as compared to the traditional crop cultivation procedures, thereby ensuring better health and relatively more stable growth of the plants.
4. Fog
The light radiations emitted by any light source into a foggy environment tends to form one of the best examples of diffusion in real life.
5. Electric Lamps or Bulbs
The light emitted by the electric lamps or bulbs into the environment is yet another example of diffusion in real life. It can be easily observed that the animated image depicting a person getting an idea is generally demonstrated by a bulb that has tiny straight lines on the filament side. The main purpose of these lines is to demonstrate the diffusion of the light emitted by the bulb or in simple words, the glow of the bulb.
