Transmittance
Transmittance
Transmittance (pronounced tranz-mit-uhns) is a term used in physics and optics to describe the fraction of incident light or radiation that passes through a material. It is often used in the context of spectrophotometry, the study of electromagnetic spectra.
Etymology
The term "transmittance" is derived from the verb "transmit", which originates from the Latin word "transmittere", meaning "to send across or through". The suffix "-ance" is used to form nouns from verbs, indicating a state or condition.
Definition
Transmittance is defined as the ratio of the intensity of light that has passed through a material to the intensity of the light when it first hits the material. It is usually expressed as a percentage or a fraction, and is a measure of how much light is absorbed by the material. The higher the transmittance, the less light is absorbed.
Related Terms
- Absorbance: The measure of the quantity of light absorbed by a material. It is the inverse of transmittance.
- Reflectance: The fraction of incident light or radiation that is reflected by a material.
- Refractive Index: A measure of how much the speed of light is reduced inside a material.
- Spectrophotometry: The study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation.
Calculation
The transmittance of a material can be calculated using the formula:
T = I/I0
where:
- T is the transmittance,
- I is the intensity of the light after it has passed through the material, and
- I0 is the intensity of the incident light.
Applications
Transmittance is a key concept in many fields, including physics, chemistry, material science, and environmental science. It is particularly important in the design of materials for windows and lenses, where high transmittance is often desirable.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Transmittance
- Wikipedia's article - Transmittance
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