Energy flux

Energy flux is the rate of transfer of energy through a surface. The quantity is defined in two different ways, depending on the context:

1. Rate of energy transfer per unit area.^[1] (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 second definition.
   • Radiative flux, heat flux, and sound energy flux are specific cases of energy flux density.
2. Total rate of energy transfer.^[2] (SI units: W = J·s⁻¹)
   • This is sometimes informally called energy current.

See also

• Energy flow (ecology)
• Flux
• Irradiance
• Poynting vector
• Stress–energy tensor

References