| a unit of luminous intensity, defined as the luminous intensity of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 1012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity of 1/683 watt/steradian: adopted in 1979 as the international standard of luminous intensity. Abbreviation: Cd |
can·del·a (kān-děl'ə) n. Abbr. cd A unit of luminous intensity equal to 1/60 of the luminous intensity per square centimeter of a blackbody radiating at the temperature of solidification of platinum (2,046°K). Also called candle. See Table at measurement. [Latin candēla, candle; see candle.] |
candela can·del·a (kān-děl'ə)
n.
Abbr. cd
A unit of measurement of luminous flux, equal to the amount of light given out through a solid angle by a source of one candela radiating equally in all directions. Also called candle.
| candela (kān-děl'ə) Pronunciation Key
The SI unit used to measure the brightness of a source of light (its luminous intensity). By definition, one square centimeter of a blackbody at the freezing point of platinum emits one-sixtieth of a candela of radiation. See Table at measurement. See also lumen, luminous flux. |
candela
unit of luminous intensity in the International System of Units (SI), defined as the luminous intensity in a given direction of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 1012 hertz and has a radiant intensity in that same direction of 1683 watt per steradian (unit solid angle). The candela has replaced the standard candle or lamp as a unit of luminous intensity in calculations involving artificial lighting and is sometimes called the "new candle."
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