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Inverse Square Law Formula:
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The Inverse Square Law describes how the intensity of radiation or other physical quantities decreases with distance from a point source. It states that intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.
The calculator uses the Inverse Square Law formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how the intensity of radiation spreads out as it moves away from a point source, decreasing with the square of the distance.
Details: Understanding intensity distribution is crucial in fields like physics, engineering, photography, and radiation safety to determine exposure levels and design appropriate safety measures.
Tips: Enter power in watts and distance in meters. All values must be valid (power > 0, distance > 0).
Q1: What applications use the inverse square law?
A: This law applies to light, sound, gravity, electric fields, and radiation, making it fundamental in physics, astronomy, photography, and audio engineering.
Q2: Why does intensity decrease with the square of distance?
A: Because the energy spreads out over the surface area of a sphere, which increases with the square of the radius (4πr²).
Q3: Does this law apply to all types of radiation sources?
A: It applies to point sources that radiate equally in all directions. For directional sources or extended sources, the relationship may be different.
Q4: How accurate is this calculation for real-world applications?
A: It provides a good approximation for many applications, but environmental factors, absorption, and source characteristics may affect real-world results.
Q5: Can this calculator be used for sound intensity?
A: Yes, the inverse square law applies to sound as well, though the formula would use sound power instead of radiation power.