glnormal3f

[ninjarider]

if i understand the function right it determines how light reflects off the surface right.

[ZbuffeR]

Yeah but it can be said for a lot of other GL commands ...

glNormal defines the vector perpendicular to the next glVertex. It should be unit length.

Have a look here, in the middle of the page there is a good image of this :
http://pixwiki.bafsoft.com/mags/10/articles/agl-c/agl18.html

[ninjarider]

what are the light constants and examples of.

[ninjarider]

im using gllookat to move around my world. the light position is suppose to be at 0,0,5,1. im not sure if its suppose to be 0,0,5,0 but i've tried both. when i move to the other side of the object its still lit up. im also using glnormal3f.

[Hlz]

Can you post your code?

Remember that the light position is transformed by the current modelview matrix when set.
http://pyopengl.sourceforge.net/documentation/manual/glLight.3G.html
http://www.rush3d.com/reference/opengl-redbook-1.1/chapter06.html