Reflectivity: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>David E. Volk
m (subpages)
imported>Mark Widmer
(Added remarks on percent, completely transparent, and perfect mirror.)
 
(2 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{subpages}}
{{subpages}}
Reflectivity is a term in [[radiometry]]. It is the ratio between the [[Irradiance|exitance]] from the front of a surface and the incident [[irradiance]] on the front.
'''Reflectivity''' is a term in [[radiometry]]. It is the ratio between the [[Irradiance|exitance]] from the front side of a surface and the incident [[irradiance]] on the front side.


<math>
<math>
   r_\lambda = \frac{M_{front,\lambda}}{E_{front,\lambda}}
   r_\lambda = \frac{M_{front,\lambda}}{E_{front,\lambda}}
</math>
</math>
Note that reflectivity is a unitless quantity in the range [0,1], and can also be expressed as a percentage in the range [0%,100%]. A completely transparent surface has a reflectivity of 0%, while a perfect mirror has a reflectivity of 100%. Reflectivity normally varies as a function of wavelength.


Note that reflectivity is a unitless quantity in the range [0,1].  It normally varies as a function of wavelength.  Reflectivity does not capture the angular dependence of the reflected energy; that is characterized by a [[Bidirectional reflectance distribution function|BRDF]].
Reflectivity does not capture the angular dependence of the reflected energy; that is characterized by a [[Bidirectional reflectance distribution function|BRDF]].
 
 
[[Category:Physics Workgroup]]

Latest revision as of 17:00, 25 January 2022

This article is a stub and thus not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

Reflectivity is a term in radiometry. It is the ratio between the exitance from the front side of a surface and the incident irradiance on the front side.

Note that reflectivity is a unitless quantity in the range [0,1], and can also be expressed as a percentage in the range [0%,100%]. A completely transparent surface has a reflectivity of 0%, while a perfect mirror has a reflectivity of 100%. Reflectivity normally varies as a function of wavelength.

Reflectivity does not capture the angular dependence of the reflected energy; that is characterized by a BRDF.