Inverse Square Law: Discussion

The inverse square law for brightness is very important in astronomy! If an object is moved twice as far away, its brightness will go down by a factor of four. Or if it is moved three times farther away, it will be nine times fainter. Ten times farther away, one hundred times fainter. And so on.

The data you measured allow you to guess just how bright the light will be at any distance! How close did you get to the inverse square law? If your points are different from this curve, what do you think might have caused the difference?