Lecture-11 on 28/01/2015

By: Rajendra S. Dhaka

(rsdhaka@physics.iitd.ac.in)

PYL100 course:
Electromagnetic Waves and
Quantum Mechanics
The Poynting Vector
Derivation of Poyntings Theorem
Energy density & Intensity of EM Waves
Discuss few examples

Energy in electromagnetic waves/review:

Results from Ch.2:
Work necessary to assemble static charge distribution against
the Coulombs repulsion is (eq.2.45)
q Energy Content of Electric Field:

0
We =
2

E2 d

Results from Ch.7:

Work required to get currents going against back emf is (eq.7.34/7.35)
1
2
B
d
q Energy Content of Magnetic Field: Wm =

2 0

This suggests that the total electromagnetic energy stored

in the volume V (energy density):
1
B2
2
U em = (0 E + ) d
2
0

The Poynting Vector

Electric and magnetic fields store energy.
Energy can also be transported by
electromagnetic waves that consist of
both fields..
Consider a plane electromagnetic wave passing through a
small volume element of area A and thickness dx,
The total energy stored in the electromagnetic fields in the
volume element is given by

Because the EM wave propagates with the speed of light c,

the amount of time it takes for the wave to move through
3
the volume element is dt = dx/c .

The Poynting Vector

the rate of change of energy per unit area, denoted by the
symbol S , as

The rate of energy flow per unit area is called the

Poynting vector and defined by the vector product

The Poynting Vector

Electromagnetic waves are able to transport energy
from transmitter to receiver
(example: from the Sun to our skin).
The power transported by the wave and its
direction is quantified by the Poynting vector.
J. Henry Poynting
For EM wave, since
(1852-1914)
! 1 ! !
S=
EB
E is perpendicular to B:
In a wave, the fields
0
change with time.

Therefore the Poynting

vector changes too!!
The direction is
S c o n s t a n t , b u t t h e
magnitude changes from
0 to a max. value. 5

Derivation of Poyntings Theorem

Let E and B are fields at time t to due to some & J
distribution. In the next instant dt, the charges move a bit.
Q: What is the work done dW by EM forces acting on
theses charges in the interval dt?
The work done on a charge q (using Lorentz force law) is,

!" !"
!
!" ! !" !
dW = F dl = q(E + v B ) vdt
!" !
= qE vdt

"#
#
q = d & J = v , the rate at which work is done on all

charges in a volume V is,

dW
=
dt

!" !"
(E J )d

E.J work done per unit time, per unit volume

( i.e. power delivered/Vol.)

Derivation of Poyntings Theorem

%
! ! " 1 % ! "!
E '
$
E J = $ ' E B 0 0
t '
# 0 & $#
&

!"
!" E
1 !" !" !"
= E ( B) 0 E
0
t
Product rule 6:

(using J from Maxwells 4th Eqn.)

E
B = 0 J + 0 0
t

! ! !
! ! ! ! ! !
( E B) = B ( E) E ( B)

!"
!" E 1 (E 2 )
E
=
t 2 t

! ! !
! ! ! ! ! !
E ( B) = B ( E) ( E B)
!"
!
!"
!"
! ! !
! B
B
st
(1 term on RHS B ( E ) = B
using E =
)
t
t
! !
1 ! 1 B 2 ! ! ! $ 0 E 2
EJ = #
+ ( E B)&
0 " 2 t
% 2 t

(only in terms
of E & B)

Derivation of Poyntings Theorem

! !
1 ! 1 B 2 ! ! ! $ 0 E 2
EJ = #
+ ( E B)&
0 " 2 t
% 2 t
2
! !
%
( 1 ! ! !
1 B
2
EJ =
' + 0 E * ( E B)
2 t & 0
) 0

dW

=
dt

!" !"
d
(E J )d = dt
V

2
1
B
1
2
(0 E + )d
2
0
0

!" !" !"

(E B)d

Using Divergence theorem on 2nd term,

dW
d
=
dt
dt

2%
1"
B
1
2
$ 0 E + 'd
2#
0 &
0
(I)

This is Poyntings Theorem

! ! !
! (E B) da
S

(II)

work-energy theorem
of electrodynamics

Derivation of Poyntings Theorem

dW
d
=
dt
dt

2%
"
1
B
1
2
$ 0 E + 'd
2#
0 &
0

!" 1 !" !"

If we define S = (E B) , then
0

! ! !
" (E B) da
S

! !
dW
dUem
=
!
S da

dt
dt

LHS Rate of work done on charges by EM force

RHS, Ist term Rate of decrease of total energy stored in the fields
RHS, IInd term Energy flowing per unit time out of the surface

S energy flux density

The Poynting Vector (S) gives the energy per unit time,
per unit area, transported by the EM Fields
!" !
S d a = Energy per unit time crossing the infinitesimal surface da

!
!
S

d
a
!
gives

the total power passing through the closed surface.

Ex. 8.1: Current I flowing down the wire (dia. a, length L)

under the influence of applied voltage V. Find out the
energy delivered to the wire per unit time (i.e. power)?

Electric field parallel

to the wire:
V
E=
L

0 I
The magnetic field is circumferential, at the surface (radius a): B =
2 a
!" 1 !" !"
VI
S = (E B) =
(magnitude)
0
2 aL
S points radially inward
Energy per unit time passing in through the surface of the wire = S.da

! !
# VI &
which leads to
S da = S(2 a L) = %$ 2 aL (' (2 a L) = VI Joule heating

Example 9.2 of Griffiths: Energy in EM waves

Lets take the case where E points in the x-direction, then B points
in y-direction

"
"
! z,t) =
! e i ( kzt ) &
Then, (
0

"
"
! z,t) = B
! e i ( kzt )
B(
0

By taking real parts, we can write as:

!
E(z, t) = E0 cos(kz t + ) x

!
1
B(z, t) = E0 cos(kz t + ) y
c

2
1
B
2
Energy per unit volume stored in EM field, uem = (0 E + )
2
0

For the case of monochromatic plane wave,

"
1
1 2
)
2
2
(since
B( z, t ) = E0 cos(t kz ) y
B = 2 E = 0 0 E
c
c
2
2
2
B

= 0 0 = 0
2 0
2 0
2

E and B contributions to u are equal.

Energy in EM waves
2

2
0

u = 0 E = 0 E cos (kz t + )
As the wave travels, this energy is carried along..
The energy flux density (or Energy/time/area)
transported by the fields is given by the Poynting vector S,
! 1 ! !
S=
EB
0
For monochromatic plane wave along z direction, this
gives S! = 1 E cos(kz t + ) # E0 & cos(kz t + )( x y)

( 0)

% (
$ c '

E02
= 0c
cos2 ( kz t + ) z = c 0 E02 cos2 ( kz t + ) z
c
2

Note that S is energy density (u) times the velocity of the

waves (c) !

S = cuz

This link between S, u and c is actually

expected, since, in a time t, a length ct
passes through area A, carrying with it an
energy,

u (Vol) = u ( Act )

= ucAt
Energy/time/Area (S, by definition)
transported by the wave is uc.

Intensity and energy density of EM Waves

For a monochromatic plane wave, e.g. in the case of
light, =5000, period is so small (~10-15sec), that
any macroscopic measurement will encompass
many cycles, all we measure is the average value,
Over a complete cycle
1
u = 0 E = 0 E02
2
!
1
S = c u z = c 0 E02 z
2
2

1
cos =
T
2

"
%
2 t
1
cos
kz

dt
=
$# T '& 2
0
2

1
2
I S = c 0 E0
2

Intensity (defined as the time-average of S):

average Power/Area transported by an EM wave.

Lets discuss few examples: Solar Energy

The light from the sun has an intensity, I, of about
1kW/m2.
What would be the total power incident on a roof of
dimensions 8m x 20m?
I = 1kW/m2 is power per unit area.
Power=I A=(103 W/m2) x 8m x 20m
=0.16 MW!!
The solar panel shown in the Figure, has
dimensions of 47in x 29in.
The incident power is then ~880 W.
The actual solar panel delivers 75W
(4.45A at 17V): less than 10% efficiency

15

EM Spherical Waves
The intensity of a wave is power per unit area..
If one has a point source (spherical wave) of light that
emits isotropically (equally in all directions)
the power emitted by the source pierces a larger and
larger sphere as the wave travels outwards
Intensity of light at distance
r can be written as:

I=

Ps

4r

So the power per unit area,

i.e. Intensity decreases as the
inverse of distance squared.

16

Another example: Radio Transmission

A radio station transmits a 10 kW signal at a frequency of 100
MHz. (We will assume it radiates as a point source).
Q. At a distance of 1km from the antenna, find the amplitude
of the electric and magnetic field strengths, and the energy
incident normally on a square plate of side 10cm in 5min.
Ps
10kW
2
I=
=
=
0
.
8
mW
/
m
4r 2 4 (1km) 2
1
I=
Em2 Em = 2c0 I = 0.775V / m
2c0
Bm = Em / c = 2.58nT
Received
energy:

P U / t
S= =
U = SAt = 2.4 mJ
17
A
A