1. Home
  2. College physics
  3. Oscillatory motion and waves
  4. Energy in waves: intensity

16.11 Energy in waves: intensity

<< Chapter < Page
  College physics     Page 1 / 3
Chapter >> Page >
  • Calculate the intensity and the power of rays and waves.
The destruction caused by an earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Some buildings are shown on two sides of a street. Two buildings are completely destroyed. Rescue people are seen around.
The destructive effect of an earthquake is palpable evidence of the energy carried in these waves. The Richter scale rating of earthquakes is related to both their amplitude and the energy they carry. (credit: Petty Officer 2nd Class Candice Villarreal, U.S. Navy)

All waves carry energy. The energy of some waves can be directly observed. Earthquakes can shake whole cities to the ground, performing the work of thousands of wrecking balls.

Loud sounds pulverize nerve cells in the inner ear, causing permanent hearing loss. Ultrasound is used for deep-heat treatment of muscle strains. A laser beam can burn away a malignancy. Water waves chew up beaches.

The amount of energy in a wave is related to its amplitude. Large-amplitude earthquakes produce large ground displacements. Loud sounds have higher pressure amplitudes and come from larger-amplitude source vibrations than soft sounds. Large ocean breakers churn up the shore more than small ones. More quantitatively, a wave is a displacement that is resisted by a restoring force. The larger the displacement x size 12{x} {} , the larger the force F = kx size 12{F= ital "kx"} {} needed to create it. Because work W size 12{W} {} is related to force multiplied by distance ( Fx size 12{ ital "Fx"} {} ) and energy is put into the wave by the work done to create it, the energy in a wave is related to amplitude. In fact, a wave’s energy is directly proportional to its amplitude squared because

W ∝ Fx = kx 2 . size 12{W prop ital "Fx"= ital "kx" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

The energy effects of a wave depend on time as well as amplitude. For example, the longer deep-heat ultrasound is applied, the more energy it transfers. Waves can also be concentrated or spread out. Sunlight, for example, can be focused to burn wood. Earthquakes spread out, so they do less damage the farther they get from the source. In both cases, changing the area the waves cover has important effects. All these pertinent factors are included in the definition of intensity     I size 12{I} {} as power per unit area:

I = P A size 12{I= { {P} over {A} } } {}

where P size 12{P} {} is the power carried by the wave through area A size 12{A} {} . The definition of intensity is valid for any energy in transit, including that carried by waves. The SI unit for intensity is watts per square meter ( W/m 2 size 12{"W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} ). For example, infrared and visible energy from the Sun impinge on Earth at an intensity of 1300 W/m 2 size 12{"1300"`"W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} just above the atmosphere. There are other intensity-related units in use, too. The most common is the decibel. For example, a 90 decibel sound level corresponds to an intensity of 10 − 3 W/m 2 size 12{"10" rSup { size 8{ - 3} } `"W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} . (This quantity is not much power per unit area considering that 90 decibels is a relatively high sound level. Decibels will be discussed in some detail in a later chapter.

Calculating intensity and power: how much energy is in a ray of sunlight?

The average intensity of sunlight on Earth’s surface is about 7 00 W/m 2 size 12{7"00"`"W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} .

(a) Calculate the amount of energy that falls on a solar collector having an area of 0 . 500 m 2 size 12{0 "." "500"`"m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} in 4 . 00 h size 12{4 "." "00"`"h"} {} .

(b) What intensity would such sunlight have if concentrated by a magnifying glass onto an area 200 times smaller than its own?

Strategy a

Because power is energy per unit time or P = E t size 12{P= { {E} over {t} } } {} , the definition of intensity can be written as I = P A = E / t A size 12{I= { {P} over {A} } = { { {E} slash {t} } over {A} } } {} , and this equation can be solved for E with the given information.

Solution a

  1. Begin with the equation that states the definition of intensity:
    I = P A . size 12{I= { {P} over {A} } } {}
  2. Replace P size 12{P} {} with its equivalent E / t size 12{E/t} {} :
    I = E / t A . size 12{I= { { {E} slash {t} } over {A} } } {}
  3. Solve for E size 12{P} {} :
    E = IAt . size 12{E= ital "IAt"} {}
  4. Substitute known values into the equation:
    E = 700 W/m 2 0 . 500 m 2 4 . 00 h 3600 s/h . size 12{E= left ("700"" W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } right ) left (0 "." "500"" m" rSup { size 8{2} } right ) left [ left (4 "." "00"" h" right ) left ("3600"" s/h" right ) right ]} {}
  5. Calculate to find E size 12{E} {} and convert units:
    5 . 04 × 10 6 J , size 12{5 "." "04" times "10" rSup { size 8{6} } "J"} {}

Discussion a

The energy falling on the solar collector in 4 h in part is enough to be useful—for example, for heating a significant amount of water.

Strategy b

Taking a ratio of new intensity to old intensity and using primes for the new quantities, we will find that it depends on the ratio of the areas. All other quantities will cancel.

Solution b

  1. Take the ratio of intensities, which yields:
    I ′ I = P ′ / A ′ P / A = A A ′ ( The powers cancel because P ′ = P ) .
  2. Identify the knowns:
    A = 200 A ′ , size 12{A="200"A'} {}
    I ′ I = 200 . size 12{ { {I rSup { size 8{'} } } over {I} } ="200"} {}
  3. Substitute known quantities:
    I ′ = 200 I = 200 700 W/m 2 . size 12{I'="200"I="200" left ("700"`"W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } right )} {}
  4. Calculate to find I ′ size 12{I'} {} :
    I ′ = 1.40 × 10 5 W/m 2 . size 12{ { {I}} sup { ' }=1 "." "40" times "10" rSup { size 8{5} } `"W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

Discussion b

Decreasing the area increases the intensity considerably. The intensity of the concentrated sunlight could even start a fire.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

Three charges q_{1}=+3\mu C, q_{2}=+6\mu C and q_{3}=+8\mu C are located at (2,0)m (0,0)m and (0,3) coordinates respectively. Find the magnitude and direction acted upon q_{2} by the two other charges.Draw the correct graphical illustration of the problem above showing the direction of all forces.
Kate Reply
To solve this problem, we need to first find the net force acting on charge q_{2}. The magnitude of the force exerted by q_{1} on q_{2} is given by F=\frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}} where k is the Coulomb constant, q_{1} and q_{2} are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.
Muhammed
What is the direction and net electric force on q_{1}= 5µC located at (0,4)r due to charges q_{2}=7mu located at (0,0)m and q_{3}=3\mu C located at (4,0)m?
Kate Reply
what is the change in momentum of a body?
Eunice Reply
what is a capacitor?
Raymond Reply
Capacitor is a separation of opposite charges using an insulator of very small dimension between them. Capacitor is used for allowing an AC (alternating current) to pass while a DC (direct current) is blocked.
Gautam
A motor travelling at 72km/m on sighting a stop sign applying the breaks such that under constant deaccelerate in the meters of 50 metres what is the magnitude of the accelerate
Maria Reply
please solve
Sharon
8m/s²
Aishat
What is Thermodynamics
Muordit
velocity can be 72 km/h in question. 72 km/h=20 m/s, v^2=2.a.x , 20^2=2.a.50, a=4 m/s^2.
Mehmet
A boat travels due east at a speed of 40meter per seconds across a river flowing due south at 30meter per seconds. what is the resultant speed of the boat
Saheed Reply
50 m/s due south east
Someone
which has a higher temperature, 1cup of boiling water or 1teapot of boiling water which can transfer more heat 1cup of boiling water or 1 teapot of boiling water explain your . answer
Ramon Reply
I believe temperature being an intensive property does not change for any amount of boiling water whereas heat being an extensive property changes with amount/size of the system.
Someone
Scratch that
Someone
temperature for any amount of water to boil at ntp is 100⁰C (it is a state function and and intensive property) and it depends both will give same amount of heat because the surface available for heat transfer is greater in case of the kettle as well as the heat stored in it but if you talk.....
Someone
about the amount of heat stored in the system then in that case since the mass of water in the kettle is greater so more energy is required to raise the temperature b/c more molecules of water are present in the kettle
Someone
definitely of physics
Haryormhidey Reply
how many start and codon
Esrael Reply
what is field
Felix Reply
physics, biology and chemistry this is my Field
ALIYU
field is a region of space under the influence of some physical properties
Collete
what is ogarnic chemistry
WISDOM Reply
determine the slope giving that 3y+ 2x-14=0
WISDOM
Another formula for Acceleration
Belty Reply
a=v/t. a=f/m a
IHUMA
innocent
Adah
pratica A on solution of hydro chloric acid,B is a solution containing 0.5000 mole ofsodium chlorid per dm³,put A in the burret and titrate 20.00 or 25.00cm³ portion of B using melting orange as the indicator. record the deside of your burret tabulate the burret reading and calculate the average volume of acid used?
Nassze Reply
how do lnternal energy measures
Esrael
Two bodies attract each other electrically. Do they both have to be charged? Answer the same question if the bodies repel one another.
JALLAH Reply
No. According to Isac Newtons law. this two bodies maybe you and the wall beside you. Attracting depends on the mass och each body and distance between them.
Dlovan
Are you really asking if two bodies have to be charged to be influenced by Coulombs Law?
Robert
like charges repel while unlike charges atttact
Raymond
What is specific heat capacity
Destiny Reply
Specific heat capacity is a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). It is measured in Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C).
AI-Robot
specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius or kelvin
ROKEEB
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
<< Chapter < Page Page > Chapter >>
Practice Key Terms 1

Read also:

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, College physics. OpenStax CNX. Jul 27, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'College physics' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask