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Radiant Flux Formula:
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Radiant Flux is the radiant energy emitted, reflected, transmitted or received, per unit time. It represents the total power of electromagnetic radiation and is measured in watts (W).
The calculator uses the Radiant Flux formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the radiant flux by multiplying the radiant intensity by the solid angle over which the radiation is distributed.
Details: Radiant flux calculation is essential in various fields including optics, photometry, radiometry, and thermal engineering. It helps in determining the total power output of light sources, calculating energy transfer in thermal systems, and designing optical instruments.
Tips: Enter radiant intensity in watts per steradian (W/sr) and solid angle in radians (rad). Both values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is the difference between radiant flux and luminous flux?
A: Radiant flux measures total power of electromagnetic radiation in watts, while luminous flux measures the perceived power of light by the human eye in lumens, weighted by the sensitivity of the eye.
Q2: How is radiant intensity different from irradiance?
A: Radiant intensity is power per unit solid angle (W/sr), while irradiance is power per unit area (W/m²) incident on a surface.
Q3: What are typical units for solid angle?
A: Solid angle is typically measured in steradians (sr), which is the SI unit, though radians (rad) are also commonly used in calculations.
Q4: Can this formula be used for all types of electromagnetic radiation?
A: Yes, the radiant flux formula applies to all forms of electromagnetic radiation, from radio waves to gamma rays.
Q5: How does radiant flux relate to total emitted power?
A: For an isotropic source (emitting equally in all directions), the total radiant flux would be \( 4\pi \) times the radiant intensity, since the solid angle of a sphere is \( 4\pi \) steradians.