GLOSSARY

Opposite arrangement
A road-lighting arrangement in which the luminaires are placed on either side of the carriage way(s) opposite to one another.

Optical light output ratio
Of a luminaire. The ratio of the total flux of the luminaire, measured under specified practical conditions, to the sum of the individual luminous fluxes of the lamps when inside the luminaire.
Note
For luminaires using incandescent lamps only, the optical light output ratio and the light output ratio are in practice the same.

Optical radiation
Electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths between the region of transition to X­rays (l» 1nm) and the region of transition to radio waves (l» 1 mm).

Photometry
Measurement of quantities referring to radiation as evaluated according to a given luminous efficiency function, e.g. V(l) or V'(l).

Power factor
In an electric circuit. The ratio of the power in watts to the product of the r. m. s. values of voltage and current. For sinusoidal waveforms, it is equal to the cosine of the angle of phase difference between voltage and current.

Preheat (or rapid-start) lamp
Hot cathode lamp designed to start with preheating of the electrodes.

Radiation
1. Emission or transfer of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles.
2. These electromagnetic waves or particles

Radiant power, ( Fe, F)/ Radiant Flux
Power emitted, transferred, or received in the form of radiation. Unit: watt, W

Rainproof luminaire
Luminaire so constructed as to withstand the penetration of rain, and for use out of doors.

Recessed luminaire
Luminaire mounted above the ceiling or behind a wall or other surface so that any visible projection is insignificant.

Reference surface
Surface on which illuminance is measured or specified.

Reflection
Return of radiation by a surface or medium without change of frequency of its monochromatic components.

Reflector
Device in which the phenomenon of reflection is used to alter the spatial distribution of the luminous flux from a source.

Reflector lamp
Lamp in which part of the bulb is coated with a reflecting material, either diffuse or specular, so as to control the light.

Regular (or specular) reflection
Reflection, without diffusion, in accordance with the laws of geometrical optics; as in a mirror.

Retina
Membrane at the back of the eye, which is sensitive to light stimuli and containing photoreceptors (cones and rods) and nerve cells that transmit the stimulation to the optic nerve.

Room index (K)
Code number, representative of the geometry of a room, used in calculation of the utilization factor or the utilance.
Note 1
Unless otherwise indicated, the room index is given by the formula K = (l x b)/h(l + b) where: l is the length of the room, b is the width and h is the distance of the luminaires above the working plane.
Note 2
The 'ceiling cavity index' is calculated from the same formula except that h is the distance from ceiling to luminaires.


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