Energy Transport in a Wave

Instructor-
Golam Dastegir Al-Quaderi
Associate Professor
Department of Physics, DU
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Waves transport energy when they propagate
through a medium or through vacuum.
• For example, when a transverse wave propagates
through a string, the particles of the string
execute simple harmonic motion about their
equilibrium positions.
• Associated with this motion of the particles of the
string, there is a certain amount of energy.
• As the wave propagates through, the energy gets
transported from one end of the string to the
other.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• This transport of energy can easily be demonstrated by
hanging an object on a stretched string and then
sending a pulse down the string.
• Consider a pulse traveling to the right on a stretched
string that has an object suspended from it.
• When the pulse meets
the suspended object,
the object is momentarily
displaced upward gaining
energy.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Consider a sinusoidal wave traveling on a string.
• The source of the energy is some external agent
at the left end of the string, which does work in
producing the oscillations.
• The external agent (may be a hand of a person)
performs work on the end of the string, moving it
up and down.
• Energy enters the system of the string and
propagates along its length.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Consider an element of the string of length Δ𝑥𝑥
and mass Δ𝑚𝑚.
• Each such element moves vertically with simple
harmonic motion.
• Hence at a fixed position, (say 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥𝑃𝑃 ) we can
model each element of the string as a simple
harmonic oscillator, with the oscillation in the 𝑦𝑦-
direction.
• All such elements have the same angular
frequency 𝜔𝜔 and the same amplitude 𝐴𝐴.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• The instantaneous velocity in the 𝑦𝑦 −direction, of an
element at 𝑥𝑥 is:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕
𝑣𝑣𝑦𝑦 = � = = 𝐴𝐴 sin 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 − 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
= −𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 cos 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 − 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔
• Thus the kinetic energy of the element of length Δ𝑥𝑥 at
𝑥𝑥 is:
1 1
Δ𝐾𝐾 = Δ𝑚𝑚 𝑣𝑣𝑦𝑦 = 𝜌𝜌Δ𝑥𝑥 (−𝐴𝐴)2 𝜔𝜔2 cos 2 (𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 − 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔)
2
2 2
where, 𝜌𝜌 = mass/length of the uniform string
= linear mass density.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• As the length of the element of the string
shrinks to zero, this becomes a differential
relationship: (Δ → 𝑑𝑑)
1 1
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝜌𝜌 𝑣𝑣𝑦𝑦2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝜌𝜌 𝐴𝐴2 𝜔𝜔2 cos 2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 − 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
2 2

x+Δ𝑥𝑥
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• If we take a snapshot of the wave at time 𝑡𝑡 = 0, the
kinetic energy of a given element at 𝑥𝑥 is:
1
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑� = 𝜌𝜌 𝐴𝐴2 𝜔𝜔2 cos 2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑡𝑡=0 2
• Integrating over a string element of one full
wavelength (which has a full set of displacements):
𝜆𝜆 𝜆𝜆
1
𝐾𝐾𝜆𝜆 = � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � 𝜌𝜌 𝐴𝐴2 𝜔𝜔2 cos 2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
0 0 2
1 2 2 1 𝜆𝜆
⇒ 𝐾𝐾𝜆𝜆 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔 𝐴𝐴 � 1 + cos(2𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
2 2 0
1 2 21 1 1 2 2
⇒ 𝐾𝐾𝜆𝜆 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔 𝐴𝐴 𝜆𝜆 − 0 + sin 2𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 − 0 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔 𝐴𝐴 𝜆𝜆
2 2 2𝑘𝑘 4
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Again, each element of the string has the restoring
forces (due to elasticity) from neighboring elements
and hence potential energy associated with it (the
element) due to its displacement from the equilibrium
position:
1 1
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝜔𝜔 𝑦𝑦 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴2 sin2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 − 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔
2 2
2 2
[recall for a spring 𝑘𝑘𝑠𝑠 = 𝜔𝜔02 𝑚𝑚]
• Hence again at the instant 𝑡𝑡 = 0 and integrating over
the one full wavelength of the string:
𝜆𝜆 𝜆𝜆
1
𝑈𝑈𝜆𝜆 = � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � 𝜌𝜌 𝐴𝐴2 𝜔𝜔2 sin2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
0 0 2
 Energy Transport in a Wave
1 2 2 1 𝜆𝜆
• Hence, 𝑈𝑈𝜆𝜆 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔 𝐴𝐴 ∫0 1 − cos(2𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
2 2
1 2 2
⇒ 𝑈𝑈𝜆𝜆 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔 𝐴𝐴 𝜆𝜆
4
• The total energy in one wavelength of the wave is:
1 2 2
𝐸𝐸𝜆𝜆 = 𝑈𝑈𝜆𝜆 + 𝐾𝐾𝜆𝜆 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔 𝐴𝐴 𝜆𝜆
2
• As the wave moves along the string, this amount of
energy passes by a given point on the string, during a
time interval of one period of oscillation.
𝐸𝐸𝜆𝜆
• Thus, the power, or rate of energy transfer is: 𝑃𝑃 =
𝑇𝑇
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Power of wave motion is:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝐸𝐸𝜆𝜆 1 2 2 𝜆𝜆 1
𝑃𝑃 = = = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔 𝐴𝐴 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴2 𝑣𝑣
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑇𝑇 2 𝑇𝑇 2
• Hence, the rate of energy transfer by a
sinusoidal wave is proportional to:
• A. square of the angular frequency i.e. 𝜔𝜔2
• B. square of the amplitude i.e. 𝐴𝐴2
• C. the wave speed i.e. 𝑣𝑣.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Intensity of Sound Wave:
• For a sound wave propagating through a gas, the
energy per unit volume is:
1 𝑀𝑀 2 2
𝜖𝜖 = 𝜔𝜔 𝐴𝐴 𝑣𝑣 Δ𝑡𝑡 /(𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 𝐿𝐿)
2 𝐿𝐿
where, 𝑀𝑀/𝐿𝐿 = 𝜌𝜌 = mass per unit length in gas
• 𝐿𝐿 = 𝑣𝑣 Δ𝑡𝑡 = length of a cylinder traversed by a wave-
front in time Δ𝑡𝑡
• 𝑀𝑀 = total mass of all molecules of the gas in the
cylinder = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 = 𝜌𝜌 𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 𝐿𝐿
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Hence, for a sound wave the energy per unit
volume is:
𝜖𝜖 = (½) 𝜌𝜌 𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴2
• Since 𝑣𝑣 = speed of the wave or of propagation of
energy, the energy per unit time flowing past an
end of the cylinder is:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2 𝒗𝒗𝚫𝚫𝒕𝒕
= 𝜖𝜖𝜖𝜖/Δ𝑡𝑡 = 𝜖𝜖 𝑣𝑣Δ𝑡𝑡 𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 /Δ𝑡𝑡
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
⇒ = 𝜖𝜖𝜖𝜖(𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 )
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Thus energy flowing per unit time per unit area is:
1
𝜖𝜖𝜖𝜖 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴2 𝑣𝑣,
2
where 𝜌𝜌 = 𝑀𝑀/𝑉𝑉
• Intensity of a wave: The intensity 𝐼𝐼 of a wave, is the
power transferred by the wave per unit area,
perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave:
𝑃𝑃
𝐼𝐼 =
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
1
• For sound waves, 𝐼𝐼 = 𝜌𝜌𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴2 𝑣𝑣
2
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Intensity of Electromagnetic Wave:
• For EM waves, energy stored per unit volume
at any moment 𝑡𝑡 is:
1 2
1 2
𝑢𝑢 = 𝜖𝜖0 𝐸𝐸 + 𝐵𝐵 /𝜇𝜇0
2 2
1
• But 𝐵𝐵 = 𝐸𝐸/𝑐𝑐 and 𝑐𝑐 = giving,
𝜖𝜖0 𝜇𝜇0
1 1 2 1
𝑢𝑢 = 𝜖𝜖0 𝐸𝐸 + 𝐸𝐸 2 = 𝜖𝜖0 𝐸𝐸 2
2
2 2 𝑐𝑐 𝜇𝜇0
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Power of EM waves, 𝑃𝑃 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑/𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = (𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢)/𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
• For a cylindrical volume, 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = (𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 )(𝑐𝑐 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑)
• Hence, power of EM waves in the cylinder:
𝑃𝑃 = 𝑢𝑢 𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 𝑐𝑐
• Instantaneous power per unit area is (at a
fixed point):
𝑃𝑃/(𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎) = 𝜖𝜖0 𝐸𝐸 2 𝑐𝑐 = 𝜖𝜖0 𝑐𝑐 𝐸𝐸02 sin2 (𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔)
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Average power/area or average energy
transferred per unit time per unit area placed
perpendicular to the direction of propagation
of the wave is:
𝐼𝐼 = 𝑃𝑃/(area) = 𝜖𝜖0 𝑐𝑐 𝐸𝐸02 sin2 (𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔)
𝑇𝑇
2 ∫0 sin2 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 1 1
• But, sin (𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔) = = =
𝑇𝑇 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 2 2
𝟏𝟏
• Hence, for EM waves, 𝑰𝑰 = 𝝐𝝐𝟎𝟎 𝒄𝒄 𝑬𝑬𝟐𝟐𝟎𝟎 = 𝒄𝒄 𝒖𝒖
𝟐𝟐
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Intensity of Electromagnetic Wave
(Alternative Derivation): Intensity of
electromagnetic wave is defined as:
Energy 1
𝐼𝐼 ≡ ×
Time Area
i.e. the energy per unit time that flows in an
electromagnetic wave per unit area across an
area placed perpendicular to the direction of
propagation of the wave.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• A sinusoidal electromagnetic wave is described
by oscillating electric and magnetic fields as:
𝐸𝐸 = 𝜖𝜖̂1 𝐸𝐸0 cos 𝑘𝑘. 𝑟𝑟⃗ − 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 = 𝜖𝜖̂1 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸0 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖 𝑘𝑘.𝑟𝑟⃗−𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔
⇒ 𝐸𝐸 = 𝜖𝜖̂1 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔
�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
𝐻𝐻 = 𝜖𝜖̂2 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐻𝐻
where 𝜖𝜖̂1 , 𝜖𝜖̂2 , 𝑘𝑘� form a right handed triad of unit
vectors.
• Here the propagation vector is 𝑘𝑘� along which the
wave propagates.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Physical and Complex E and H-Fields:
• It is customary to write the electric and magnetic fields
as complex quantities with the understanding that the
physical E and H fields are the real parts of the
complex fields:
𝐸𝐸𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 𝜖𝜖̂1 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸
�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐻𝐻
𝐻𝐻𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 𝜖𝜖̂2 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐻𝐻
where the complex fields are:
𝐸𝐸 = 𝜖𝜖̂1 𝐸𝐸�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
𝐻𝐻 = 𝜖𝜖̂2 𝐻𝐻�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Poynting Vector: The Poynting vector is defined as:
𝑆𝑆⃗ = 𝐸𝐸𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 × 𝐻𝐻𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸 × 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐻𝐻
1
• But we know, 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐴𝐴 = 𝐴𝐴 + 𝐴𝐴∗ , which gives
2
1
𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸 = 𝐸𝐸�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐸𝐸�0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 +𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝜖𝜖̂1
2
1
𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐻𝐻 = 𝐻𝐻 �0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐻𝐻�0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 +𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝜖𝜖̂2
2
where we have used the fact that the unit vectors
𝜖𝜖̂1 and 𝜖𝜖̂2 are real i.e. 𝜖𝜖̂1 = 𝜖𝜖̂1∗ , 𝜖𝜖̂2 = 𝜖𝜖̂2∗
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Physical Interpretation of 𝑆𝑆⃗: The Poynting vector is a
vector pointing in the direction of propagation of the
wave with the dimensions of:
Force
𝑆𝑆⃗ = 𝐸𝐸 × 𝐻𝐻 ≡ × 𝐼𝐼/𝐿𝐿
Charge
where we have used 𝐹𝐹⃗𝑒𝑒 = 𝑞𝑞𝐸𝐸 and ∮ 𝐻𝐻 . 𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑙⃗ = 𝐼𝐼
• Hence,
Force Charge Work
𝑆𝑆⃗ ≡ × =
Charge Time . Length Time . Area
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Hence, the Poynting vector represents the
energy transported per unit time per unit area
across an electromagnetic wave in the
direction of the propagation of the wave.
• Any instrument actually measures the time-
averaged intensity or energy transported.
• Hence we need to calculate the time-averaged
Poynting vector to get the intensity.
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Time-Averaged Poynting Vector: The average of
Poynting vector over a long (compared to the
time period of the oscillation of the wave) time is:
𝑇𝑇 ′
1
�𝑆𝑆⃗� = ′ � 𝑆𝑆⃗ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
2𝑇𝑇 −𝑇𝑇 ′
where 𝑇𝑇 ′ ≫ 𝑇𝑇 = 2𝜋𝜋/𝜔𝜔= the characteristic time-
scale of the wave.
• Recall that here,
𝑆𝑆⃗ = 𝐸𝐸𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 × 𝐻𝐻𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸 × 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐻𝐻
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Hence we get,
𝑇𝑇 ′
1 1
�𝑆𝑆⃗� = ′ � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 �𝐸𝐸�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝐻𝐻 �0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 −2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐸𝐸�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝐻𝐻�0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗
2𝑇𝑇 4 −𝑇𝑇 ′
+ 𝐸𝐸�0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝐻𝐻
�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ + 𝐸𝐸�0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝐻𝐻
�0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝑒𝑒 +2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 � 𝜖𝜖̂1 × 𝜖𝜖̂2
• But we know that
𝑇𝑇 ′
1 1 1 𝑇𝑇 ′
�𝑒𝑒 ±2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 � = ′ � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑒𝑒 ±2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = ′ 𝑒𝑒 ±2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 −𝑇𝑇 ′
2𝑇𝑇 −𝑇𝑇 ′ 2𝑇𝑇 2𝑖𝑖 𝜔𝜔
1 ±2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑇𝑇 ′ ∓2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑇𝑇 ′
1 𝑇𝑇 ′
= ′ 𝑒𝑒 − 𝑒𝑒 = ± sin 2𝜔𝜔𝑇𝑇
2𝑇𝑇 𝜔𝜔 2𝑖𝑖 4𝜋𝜋𝑇𝑇 ′
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Thus, we have the time averaged quantity:
±2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 =
1 𝑇𝑇 ′ →0
�𝑒𝑒 � ±1 sin 2𝜔𝜔𝑇𝑇
4𝜋𝜋 𝑇𝑇 ′
as 𝑇𝑇 ′ → ∞ or 𝑇𝑇 ′ ≫ 𝑇𝑇 or 𝜔𝜔 → ∞.
• Hence over a large time, we have
𝑇𝑇 ′
1 1
�𝑆𝑆⃗� = ′ � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝐸𝐸�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝐻𝐻 �0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗ + 𝐸𝐸�0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝐻𝐻
�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ (𝜖𝜖̂1
2𝑇𝑇 4 −𝑇𝑇 ′
× 𝜖𝜖̂2 ) 2𝑇𝑇 ′
1
= 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸�0 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝐻𝐻 �0∗ 𝑟𝑟⃗ 𝜖𝜖̂1 × 𝜖𝜖̂2
2
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• Thus,
1 1
�𝑆𝑆⃗� = 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸0 𝑒𝑒 ⃗
𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘.𝑟𝑟 𝐻𝐻0 𝑒𝑒 ⃗
−𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘.𝑟𝑟 𝑘𝑘� = 𝐸𝐸0 𝐻𝐻0 𝑘𝑘�
2 2
• But we know, 𝐻𝐻0 = 𝐵𝐵0 /𝜇𝜇0 and 𝐵𝐵0 = 𝐸𝐸0 /𝑐𝑐.
• Hence we get finally,
1 1
�𝑆𝑆⃗� = 𝐸𝐸0 𝑘𝑘� =
2
𝜖𝜖0 /𝜇𝜇0 𝐸𝐸02 𝑘𝑘�
2𝜇𝜇0 𝑐𝑐 2
• Since the intensity is energy flow (per unit time per
unit area) across an area placed perpendicular to the
direction of propagation, we have (using 𝑛𝑛� = 𝑘𝑘�):
𝐼𝐼 = �𝑆𝑆⃗. 𝑛𝑛�� = �|𝑆𝑆⃗|�
 Energy Transport in a Wave
• This finally gives the intensity of
electromagnetic wave as:
1 𝜖𝜖0 2
𝐼𝐼 = 𝐸𝐸0
2 𝜇𝜇0