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Subject:Re: luminous vs. light as adjectives From:Paul David Marvel <marvel -at- BRAHMS -dot- UDEL -dot- EDU> Date:Sun, 13 Feb 1994 12:47:07 -0500
Robert:
Yeah, I see the problem with the logic, but I think I've found a
dog that hunts.
In physics, the words on this list which have luminous in the
English gloss refer to brightness of visible light. For example,
the total rate of energy coming from an EM source is its radiant
flux, measured in watts. The part that's in the visible spectrum
is its luminous flux, measured in lumens. The other terms work
the same way. This should also account for the photon in your
previous post.
I don't know enough technical French vocabulary to confirm or
deny so let me know if plan B works with terms not on this list.
If it does, I think we can call luminous a modifier.
Paul D. Marvel
marvel -at- brahms -dot- udel -dot- edu
On Sat, 12 Feb 1994, Robert Bononno wrote:
> densite lumineux = luminous density
> intensite lumineuse = luminous intensity
> onde lumineuse = light wave
> rayon lumineux = light ray
> unite d'intensite lumineuse = light unit
> rendement lumineux = luminous efficiency
> etc.
> My question was really whether or not these different usages
> (translations) reflect different underlying physical concepts...and if
> English usage accounts for this difference.
