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What are Luminous and Non-Luminous Objects?

What are luminous and non-luminous objects? Find the answer to this question and access a vast question bank that is customized for students.

Answer: Luminous intensity is the measure of the light or energy emitting potential of a light source, either generally or in any specific direction. Represented by Iv, luminous intensity is measured in Candelas. Here explained are both luminous and non-luminous objects:

Luminous Objects:

Here explained is everything about non-luminous objects:

  1. Objects that emit or give out light or energy of their own are referred to as luminous objects. 
  2. The sensation of light is caused by luminous objects.
  3. These objects are visible because the light is emitted by them on their own.
  4. For example, the Sun, stars, electric bulbs, torches, tube lights, candles, and so on.
  5. Sun is considered a natural luminous object. It is a nearly perfect ball of hot plasma that radiates energy mainly as visible light. 
  6. Stars are the other natural luminous object consisting of a luminous spheroid of plasma. They are visible to the naked eye at night because of the light emitted by them. 

Non-Luminous Objects:

Here explained is everything about non-luminous objects:

  1. Objects that do not emit or give out light or energy of their own are referred to as non-luminous objects.
  2. The sensation of light is not caused by non-luminous objects.
  3. These objects are visible only because of the presence of luminous objects.
  4. For example, the Moon, Earth, Venus, Uranus, and other planets. 
  5. The reason why the moon is an example of a non-luminous object is that it does not reflect its own light but reflects the light from the sun.
  6. Now that no light is emitted by earth or any other planet themselves present in the solar system, these astronomical objects are categorised as non-luminous objects.