Lambert's cosine law

English

Etymology

Named after Johann Heinrich Lambert.

Proper noun

Lambert's cosine law

1. (optics) A law stating that the radiant intensity or luminous intensity observed from an ideal diffusely reflecting surface or ideal diffuse radiator is directly proportional to the cosine of the angle between the direction of the incident light and the surface normal.

   Synonyms: cosine emission law, Lambert's law, Lambert's emission law

Related terms

• Lambertian