The Beatrice experiment and the luminance concept in Dante
Abstract
An experiment suggested by Beatrice in Dante's Divine Comedy is analyzed to show that Dante was well aware of the knowledge of his time to the point of exploring concepts not understood in the 13th century. The experiment shows that the luminance of a spherical light source as perceived by the retina, is independent of the source distance. Three mirrors are used in the experimental set-up.
- Publication:
-
Unknown
- Pub Date:
- May 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984belc.rept.....C
- Keywords:
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- Experiment Design;
- Luminance;
- Visual Perception;
- Histories;
- Mirrors;
- Scientists;
- Optics