do mirrors multiply total lumens? physics broken

mrmz88

Active Member
like say i have a 5000lumen generating bulb. if i use a mirror to reflect 100% of its light then i am effectively doubling the brightness in the room because the reflection gives off light also. maybe not 100% but even if its just 1% then havent i broken a law of thermodynamics that i cant produce more energy than is put in? cus the reflection created by a mirror is like a clone of the light that requires no energy to produce.... couldnt one use a mirror facing a nother mirror with a light in the middle and produce infinite reflections and infinite lumens and with solar power produce infinite electricity?

whats the number to the nobel prize committee?
 

themistocles

Well-Known Member
Wow, that is an interesting thought until you brake it down. Although I really like your way of thinking it won't really work that way.
First you need to know some definitions
1) Lumens : measure of perceived
2) Radiant flux : measure of total emitted light

As far as getting continuous energy goes that isn't going to happen. If you did bounce light back and forth of of mirrors once it hit the solar panel the light energy is then collected and it wouldn't bounce around anymore. Ending the perpetual cycle. And don't forget your using electricity constantly to make the light.

And for multiplication purposes; as light travels its intensity is lost the farther it travels away from the source. The more distance that is put in between the source and the receiver (solar panel, or plant) the less intense the light will be. So while putting up mylar or mirrors does reflect the light adding to the lumens, 100% of the light isn't reflected back. Some light energy is absorbed and lost to heat, some will reflect or refract in another direction.

The true use of mirrors and light:
To get the most out of your light, you want to contain the emitting light and all the radiated lumens in one direction. Any light that escapes the initial reflector in any other direction (like a wall or the floor) is basically lost energy. By putting up mirrors or mylar you reflect that light (the lost energy) in the direction where it can be used (plant, solar panel). This doesn't really multiply your light it more like adds. But the relfected light will be no where near as intense as it was when it was originaly emmitted. It will also be less intense than the light that just goes from light bulb to collector, rather than light bulb, reflector then collector.

Basically the farther light travels the more energy it looses. (distance not displacement)
 

OregonMeds

Well-Known Member
Better yet just say no to mylar too and switch to vertical lighting with plants between or surrounding your light(s).

That's the only way to truly get the absolute most from the 360 degrees of light of light the bulb emits.

Any time it's reflected it's nowhere near original intensity due to loss in reflective materials and added distances it has to go. Inches matter. I've switched everything I use to vertical and thrown out all reflectors after seeing the results both ways. I'll use a reflector for seedlings and small clones now and that's it. Never going back.
 

Geozander

Well-Known Member
Mylar not mirrors mate. Fair enough mirrors are designed to reflect, but if they did do what you think everyone would be using mirrors. Have heard mirrors can cause hot spots too. Then you got the added problem of sheets of fragile glass. No mate, like i say go with mylar, its designed for it.
 

ajarrod

Well-Known Member
your thinking about it all worng the mirrors nor mylar will add lumens only decrease the amount of lumens lost
 

greenjunky97

Well-Known Member
the mirror isnt doubling light only reflecting it
think about it because u see yourself in the mirror doest mean the mirrors sucessfully created a clone of you
 

tom__420

Well-Known Member
Its been proven white color does almost nothing as far as being reflective.
Where has it been proven? Panda plastic is white and it is very reflective. You sir have no clue what you are talking about. Flat white paint and poly plastic are both white and they reflect great. Where did you see that the color white has been proven that it does nothing for reflectivity? Please post a link instead of just talking out of your ass and giving terrible advice.
 
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