The Light is Not Linear, Either

This lab uses the light sensor to plot brightness as a function of distance from a light source.  The purpose is to demonstrate the inverse-square relationship quantitatively. Includes a discussion of units.

Student Objectives

  • Become familiar with units which describe the brightness or intensity of a light source
  • Measure the brightness of a point source as a function of distance
  • Prepare a graph to analyze the relationship mathematically
  • Compare the experimental plot to a predicted inverse-square graph
  • Examine the experimental set up and suggest possible improvements


© NJ Getson 2011–2022