Final answer:
a) photodetector is the electronic component that measures light intensity and is used in various analytic laboratory instruments to detect optical inputs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The electronic component that measures light intensity and is a fundamental part of many analytic laboratory instruments is the photodetector. It is designed to respond to optical inputs from ultraviolet to infrared wavelengths. The typical process involves sorting light by wavelength using filters or a spectrometer, followed by measuring the properties of light with a photodetector. While a spectrophotometer can measure the absorption or transmission of light at various wavelengths, and is particularly useful for measuring the turbidity of a bacterial cell suspension, the photodetector is the specific component responsible for detecting light intensity.