Dictionary Definition

candela n : the basic unit of luminous intensity adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites; equal to 1/60 of the luminous intensity per square centimeter of a black body radiating at the temperature of 2,046 degrees Kelvin [syn: candle, cd, standard candle]

User Contributed Dictionary

English

Noun

candela
1. In the International System of Units, the base unit of luminous intensity; the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 1012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian. Symbol: cd

candela
1. candela

Latin cande¯la

candela

Extensive Definition

The candela (, /-ˈdiːlə/, symbol: cd) is the SI base unit of luminous intensity; that is, power emitted by a light source in a particular direction, weighted by the luminosity function (a standardized model of the sensitivity of the human eye to different wavelengths, also known as the luminous efficiency function).

Definition

Like other SI base units, the candela has an operational definition—it is defined by a description of a physical process that will produce one candela of luminous intensity. Since the 16th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1979, the candela has been defined as:
The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.
The definition describes how to produce a light source that (by definition) emits one candela. Such a source could then be used to calibrate instruments designed to measure luminous intensity, for example.
The candela is sometimes still called by the old name candle http://m-w.com/dictionary/candela, such as in foot-candle and the modern definition of candlepower.

Explanation

The frequency chosen is in the visible spectrum near green, corresponding to a wavelength of about 555 nanometers. The human eye is most sensitive to this frequency, when adapted for bright conditions. At other frequencies, more radiant intensity is required to achieve the same luminous intensity, according to the frequency response of the human eye. The luminous intensity for light of a particular wavelength \lambda is given by
I_v(\lambda)= 683.002\,\overline(\lambda) I(\lambda)
where I_v(\lambda) is the luminous intensity in candelas, I(\lambda) is the radiant intensity in W/sr and \overline(\lambda) is the standard luminosity function. If more than one wavelength is present (as is usually the case), one must sum or integrate over the spectrum of wavelengths present to get the total luminous intensity.
A common candle emits roughly 1 cd. A 100 W incandescent lightbulb emits about 120 cd.

Origin

Prior to 1948, there existed a variety of standards for luminous intensity in use in various countries. These were typically based on the brightness of the flame from a "standard candle" of defined composition, or the brightness of an incandescent filament of specific design. One of the best-known of these standards was the English standard: candlepower. One candlepower was the light produced by a pure spermaceti candle weighing one sixth of a pound and burning at a rate of 120 grains per hour.
It became clear that a better-defined unit was needed. The Commission internationale de l'éclairage (International Commission on Illumination) and the CIPM proposed a “new candle” based on the luminance of a Planck radiator (a black body) at the temperature of freezing platinum. The value of the new unit was chosen to make it similar to the earlier unit candlepower. The decision was promulgated by the CIPM in 1946: The value of the new candle is such that the brightness of the full radiator at the temperature of solidification of platinum is 60 new candles per square centimetre.
It was then ratified in 1948 by the 9th CGPM which adopted a new name for this unit, the candela. In 1967 the 13th CGPM removed the term "new candle" and gave an amended version of the candela definition, specifying the atmospheric pressure applied to the freezing platinum: The candela is the luminous intensity, in the perpendicular direction, of a surface of 1/600 000 square metre of a black body at the temperature of freezing platinum under a pressure of 101 325 newtons per square metre.
In 1979, because of the difficulties in realizing a Planck radiator at high temperatures and the new possibilities offered by radiometry, the 16th CGPM adopted the modern definition of the candela. The arbitrary (1/683) term was chosen so that the new definition would exactly match the old definition. Although the candela is now defined partly in terms of the watt, which is a derived SI unit of power, the candela remains a base unit of the SI system, by definition.http://www1.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/appendix2/photometric.html#history

SI photometric light units

Relationship between luminous intensity and luminous flux

If a source emits a known intensity (in candelas) in a well-defined cone, the total luminous flux in lumens can be calculated by taking the number of candelas, and dividing it by the number in the table below that corresponds to the "radiation angle" of the lamp (the full vertex angle of the emission cone). See MR16 for emission angles of some common lamps. Theory Formulas Online converter
• Example: A lamp that emits 590 cd with a radiation angle of 40°: 590/2.64 = approximately 223 lumens.
If the source emits light uniformly in all directions, the flux can be found by multiplying the intensity by 4π: a uniform 1 candela source emits 12.6 lumens.

References

candela in Arabic: شمعة (وحدة قياس)
candela in Bengali: ক্যান্ডেলা
candela in Bosnian: Kandela
candela in Breton: Candela
candela in Bulgarian: Кандела
candela in Catalan: Candela
candela in Czech: Kandela
candela in Danish: Candela
candela in German: Candela
candela in Estonian: Kandela
candela in Spanish: Candela
candela in Esperanto: Kandelo (mezurunuo)
candela in Basque: Kandela
candela in Persian: کاندلا
candela in French: Candela
candela in Korean: 칸델라
candela in Hindi: कैण्डेला
candela in Croatian: Kandela
candela in Indonesian: Candela
candela in Icelandic: Kandela
candela in Italian: Candela (unità di misura)
candela in Hebrew: קנדלה
candela in Latvian: Kandela
candela in Lithuanian: Kandela
candela in Hungarian: Kandela
candela in Malay (macrolanguage): Kandela
candela in Dutch: Candela (eenheid)
candela in Japanese: カンデラ
candela in Norwegian: Candela
candela in Norwegian Nynorsk: Candela
candela in Polish: Kandela
candela in Portuguese: Candela
candela in Romanian: Candelă
candela in Russian: Кандела
candela in Simple English: Candela
candela in Slovak: Kandela
candela in Slovenian: Kandela
candela in Serbian: Кандела
candela in Finnish: Kandela
candela in Swedish: Candela
candela in Ukrainian: Кандела
candela in Urdu: کنڈیلا
candela in Chinese: 坎德拉