From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Energy flux is the rate of transfer of
energy through a surface. The quantity is defined in two different ways, depending on the context:
- Total rate of energy transfer (not per unit area);
[1] SI units: W = J⋅s−1.
-
Specific rate of energy transfer (total normalized per unit
area);
[2]
SI units: W⋅m−2 = J⋅m−2⋅s−1:
- This is a vector quantity, its components being determined in terms of the normal (perpendicular) direction to the surface of measurement.
- This is sometimes called energy
flux density, to distinguish it from the first definition.
-
Radiative flux,
heat flux, and
sound energy flux are specific cases of this meaning.
See also
References