Module 01

Question 1

What is the light source and effect of the pantheon in Rome, Italy?

Answer 1

Natural Daylighting Effect – the oculus is the light source of the pantheon that allows lighting to enter throughout the day highlighting the five symmetrical rows of 28 coffers, changing dark to light.

Question 2

What was the lighting technology used during theaters in the late 19th century?

Answer 2

Incandescent Lamp

Question 3

What did Richard Kelly use as the lighting technique and effect within the Kimball Museum?

Answer 3

He used narrow plexiglass skylights along the top of a cycloid barrel vault to allow natural light to enter the space and the diffused wing shaped aluminum reflectors that hang below gives a silver gleam to the smooth concrete surface above and provides a subtle, fluctuating illumination for the works of art.

Question 4

What is the accurate description of “Visible Light”?

Answer 4

The human eye can only detect a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Question 5

Pure white light is perceived as _________, but contains all colors in the visible spectrum.

Answer 5

colorless

Question 6

What three components need to be present for the color to exists?

Answer 6

1. A viewer
2. An object
3. Light

Question 7

Describe color perception.

Answer 7

When white light hits an object, it selectively blocks some colors and reflects others; only the reflected colors contribute to the viewer’s perception of color.

Question 8

Describe how images are received on the retina of the eye?

Answer 8

Light enters, it bends, the iris dilates and constricts as the lens focuses, the inverted image is received on the retina, the retina has nerve cells that convert the light to chemical signals to process in the brain.

Question 9

What are the two-vision system cells and what are they responsible for?

Answer 9

Rods (Scotopic) – responsible for low light movement

Cones (Photopic) – responsible for seeing well lit conditions and color perception

Question 10

What light sensitive hormone is produced by the body every evening before bedtime?

Answer 10

Melatonin hormone

Question 11

Define “Luminance and Illuminance”.

Answer 11

Luminance – is a measure of the luminous intensity per unit area of light traveling in a given direction (candelas/m^2)

Illuminance – is the total luminous flux incident on a surface, per unit area. It is a measure of how much the incident light illuminates the surface (lumens/f^2)

Question 12

Brightness is a result of what three effects?

Answer 12

1. Adaption
   2.Certain Time
2. Contrast

Question 13

How long does it take the eye to adapt from extreme light to extreme dark environments?

Answer 13

up to 30 minutes for full adaption

Question 14

What should a designer identify to create the appropriate emotional setting for a given environment?

Answer 14

The designer should IDENTIFY the activity that occurs within a space.

Determine degree of stimulation that will reinforce the activity.

Establish the degree of brightness contrast that will yield the necessary level of stimulation.

Question 15

When describing an environment, where one is studying technical information or preparing for an exam, what type of lighting load would be needed?

Answer 15

A higher load lighting.

Question 16

A low-contrast environment has a large proportion of ________ light and a small amount of _______ light.

Answer 16

diffused
focused

Question 17

What does a high-contrast space intend to evoke?

Answer 17

Specific moods and emotions.

Question 18

Explain the subjective impressions of brightness contrast in relationship to surfaces.

Answer 18

If all room surfaces are dark, there is little Interreflection, Contrast is high. Stimulation is low.

If all room surfaces are light-colored, Interreflections will fill on shadows. Contrast is low. Stimulation is high.

Question 19

Interreflection uses the reflection of a room’s ________.

Answer 19

surfaces

Question 20

What does the effect of lighting variation increase?

Answer 20

Lighting variation increases stimulation and impressions of pleasantness.

Question 21

What did Richard Kelly consider to be the three fundamental elements of light? Give an example of each.

Answer 21

Ambient Luminescence (a snowy morning in the open country)

Focal glow (spotlight on a stage)

Sparkle (time square at night)

Question 22

What three areas of impression did John Flynn find when he documented the six lighting schemes of the same room?

Answer 22

Spaciousness

Perceptual clarity

Pleasantness

Question 23

When wall lighting is added, Flynn found all three category ratings are shifted to positive or negative?

Answer 23

Positive

Question 24

What is a secondary light source? Give an example.

Answer 24

Any object or surface that reflects or transmits light becomes a secondary source.

Ex: The moon illuminates the earth as a reflection of the sun.

Question 25

When is grazing illumination appropriate?

Answer 25

It is appropriate when lighting heavily textured surfaces.

Question 26

What does diffuse wall lighting do to a drywall surface?

Answer 26

Reduces the likelihood that surfaces flaws will be noticed and strengthens an impression of surface smoothness.

Question 27

What kind of lighting produces drama, emotional excitement, and reduces the visibility of detail to an art sculpture?

Answer 27

Key Lighting.

Question 28

Name the seven directions and distributions of light. Include a drawing illustration of each.

Answer 28

1. Concentrated direct distribution
2. Diffused direct distribution
3. Concentrated indirect distribution
4. Diffused indirect distribution
5. Concentrated direct/indirect distribution
6. Direct/Indirect distribution
7. General diffused distribution

Question 29

Name and define two types of glare.

Answer 29

Discomfort glare – results in a instinctive desire to look away from bright light source or difficulty in seeing a task.

Disability glare – impairs and cripples the vision of objects.

Question 30

What is reflected glare? What should be considered when designing to improve visual comfort?

Answer 30

Reflected glare is excessive uncontrolled luminance indirectly reflecting from objects or surfaces in the field of view. When designing to improve visual comfort luminaire locations should be considered.