A lambertian radiating surface is one whose intensity varies with angle according to Lambert's Law. The radiance of a lambertian radiating surface is independent of the angle from which it is viewed....A lambertian radiating surface is one whose intensity varies with angle according to Lambert's Law. The radiance of a lambertian radiating surface is independent of the angle from which it is viewed. Lambertian surfaces radiate isotropically. The radiance of a black body is lambertian. Since the Sun exhibits limb-darkening; the Sun is not a black body, nor is it lambertian.
Reflection of light from a smooth, shiny surface is called specular reflection. (Latin speculum a mirror.) At the other extreme we have the sort of diffuse scattering that occurs when you shine light ...Reflection of light from a smooth, shiny surface is called specular reflection. (Latin speculum a mirror.) At the other extreme we have the sort of diffuse scattering that occurs when you shine light on blotting paper. And there are lots of situations in between these extremes. In this chapter I am going to deal solely with specular reflection, the law of specular reflection being that the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.
