Proper lighting is your guarantee of eye health, full performance of homework, and reduced fatigue. We will talk about how to use sunlight for inspired reading and writing.
Of course, proper lighting is necessary for studying. Students need it while doing their numerous assignments. Of course, they can make their studies easier by getting academic writing help at essayshark.com. In this way, you will not only save your time but save your eyes as well if you don’t have proper lighting in your room.
The organization of the student’s workplace is an important task because it not only focuses on the subject and good grades but also health depends on the convenience of the study corner. It is necessary not only to choose the right chair and table but also to provide a place to store books, notebooks, writing, and educational supplies.
At the same time, the working area should not conflict with the general style of the room but, on the contrary, harmoniously fit into it. But the most important thing is to organize the proper lighting consisting mostly of sunlight for inspired reading and writing.
Lighting characteristics
When selecting lighting fixtures, you need to take into account their power, luminous flux, color temperature, color rendering index, and luminous intensity curve.
Power. This is a classic parameter which the owners are mainly guided by. But strictly speaking, wattage is just an indication of how much electricity a lamp consumes.
On the Internet, you can find tables for the selection of lighting by power. They recommend 10 watts of power per square meter for dim light, 15 watts – for medium, and 20 watts – for bright. This is just a recommendation; there are no rules on this matter. The calculation must be done separately for different types of lamps: the power of incandescent lamps is very high and LED – very low.
But the very idea of choosing lighting according to power per square meter is conditional. Even if you take into account the ceilings and, say, multiply the result of the calculation by 1.5 for a high apartment, the interior features will still not be taken into account. For example, white walls reflect light well, while a dark carpet on the floor will absorb it.
Light flow. This is the amount of light that the lamp emits. Light output is measured in lumens. The parameter is generally related to power, and, as a rule, each 1 watt of power adds 80-150 lumens of light flux. But it also happens the other way around: a less powerful lamp has a greater luminous flux than a lamp of a higher power.
For practical application, the ratio of the luminous flux and the area of the illuminated surface is important. This is called illuminance, and it is measured in lux. Simply put, lumens are the light coming out of the luminaire, while lux is the light that hits the surface.
It is more correct to say not how many watts per square meter are needed but how many lamps are needed to get, for example, 200 lux on a desk.
To get the illumination in lux, the luminous flux is divided by the area: E = F / S.
A 60-watt incandescent lamp produces a luminous flux of approximately 600 lumens. That is, one m² will have 600 lux. This is an ideal theoretical calculation because we did not take into account the height of the ceilings, the location of the lamp, and the features of the room. In this calculation, you can enter reflection coefficients that will take into account the color of the walls, floor, and flow: from 1 – “dark” to 2.5 – “white gloss.” You can enter a correction for the height of the ceiling. But in order to make a competent and accurate calculation, you will need to take into account other parameters.
Colorful temperature. This parameter is measured in kelvins and characterizes the shade of the color: they usually talk about cold, warm, or neutral light. But there are more variations. For example, 1800 kelvins are the flame of a candle, and about 6000 kelvins are given by the sun. Lamps with 10,000 kelvins are used in dentistry; this is a special medical light.
Color temperature affects the psycho-emotional state of a person. In offices, more often they put sources of neutral light, 4000 kelvins: it stimulates activity. And the yellow light – 2700 kelvins – is more about rest and relaxation. The lighting designer can combine temperatures: neutral light in the room during the day and yellow – in the evening.
Basic information about natural light
Natural lighting is the light that the sun “gives” us. It is considered a reference in all respects except for stability. It most accurately conveys the colors of objects, does not pulsate, and has an optimal brightness for human eyes. We see objects illuminated by natural light without color distortion and contrast. Rather, it is customary to think so since, in the process of evolution, human vision has constantly adapted precisely to sunlight.
Natural lighting has one significant drawback – it is unstable and not ubiquitous. Illumination depends on the time of day and the weather. In rooms, its intensity strongly depends on the area of ​​glazing and the orientation of the windows. It doesn’t exist at all at night. The only possible source at night is the Moon, or rather, the light of the Sun reflected by it to the Earth. However, moonlight is even more fickle. In addition, it is not bright enough for many tasks.
In order not to depend on the variability and instability of natural light, people use artificial light.
Standards for students
Do you know why students should arrange their workplaces according to specific rules and take into account natural light? Yes, this is all a consequence of scientific research embodied in legislative requirements.
There are guidelines for planning classrooms for different types of activities, taking into account the ingress of natural light into the classrooms. To create comfortable lighting for your room for reading and writing, you must follow the following requirements:
- use only diffused light lamps;
- color rendering index. It should be more than 80%;
- the color temperature of lamps – 4000 K;
- the coefficient of light pulsation should not exceed 10%; it should be not more than 5% while working at the computer.
Workplace lighting: tips for schoolchildren and students
Proper lighting plays an important role in ensuring effective and comfortable learning. For a student, a well-lit study space helps improve concentration, protect your eyesight, and improve your overall well-being. Let’s look at a few key aspects to consider when creating optimal lighting conditions for reading and writing.
- Choosing the right light sources
The first step to good lighting is choosing the right light sources. The main types of light sources are natural light (sunlight) and artificial light (lamps and fixtures). The combination of both types of light can create an optimal learning environment.
Natural lighting is preferable for daytime study. Position your workspace next to a window to take advantage of the maximum amount of daylight. Avoid strong glare by using curtains or blinds to control light intensity.
Artificial lighting is important for evening and night study. Choose lamps with a neutral or warm light tone (around 4000K), as they are more pleasing to the eye and can help you focus.
- Location of fixtures
The correct location and direction of the fixtures are also important. Eliminate shadows and obscurations of the light flow, which may occur due to the position of the lamp. It is recommended to use a table lamp with an adjustable arm or a directional light to concentrate the light on the work surface.
- Avoid glare and reflections
Glare on a computer screen or textbook pages can cause eye strain and reduce visibility. Place your computer screen at an angle to the light source to avoid reflections. Also, use screen protectors to help reduce glare.
- Adjust the light intensity
The ability to adjust the brightness of the light plays an important role in creating a comfortable learning environment. Use dimmers to tailor the lighting to your needs at different times of the day.
- Pick the right light color
The color of light can affect mood and productivity. Warm light (yellowish tint) can create a more inviting atmosphere, while cool light (pale blue) encourages wakefulness and alertness. Choose the light color that suits your learning needs and preferences.
- Pay attention to the background
The lighting of the study area is important, but also pay attention to the general background. Avoid excessive brightness on walls or other surfaces to avoid eye strain.
- Breaks and eyes
Remember to take regular breaks while studying to rest your eyes. Do eye exercises; look at distant objects to soften the load on the eye muscles.
In conclusion, proper lighting of the study space is an essential part of successful learning. Creating optimal conditions for vision and comfort increases your efficiency and the joy of learning. Follow these tips and customize your learning space to support you in achieving your learning goals.