I Absorption of Radiation: Calculating Sphere Area

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the area of a sphere in relation to radiation absorption, specifically questioning the application of the formula πr². Participants clarify that the area of a sphere is actually 4πr² and explore the concept of specific surface area, which relates surface area to mass. There is confusion regarding the meaning of density in this context, with suggestions that it could refer to either mass or volume. The conversation emphasizes the need for clearer questions to facilitate understanding. Overall, the thread highlights the complexities of relating geometric properties to radiation absorption.
hagopbul
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Hello:

Do anyone remember a law to calculate an area of a sphere ,some thing like the specific surface area but relative to absorption of radiation ?
 
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Like ##\pi r^2\ ## ?
 
BvU said:
Like ##\pi r^2\ ## ?

Yes but with density elements
 
In what context ? You seem to have a specific expression for absorption in mind ... what density, and of what ?
 
Hagopbul, will you please write more than one sentence at a time? It is infuriating when it takes many days and may posts before you finally have written the entire question.
 
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I was wondering about radiation absorption in simple radiation pressure equation , a professor on YouTube used the (pi r^2 )
equation .
I start to ask myself can we have other area law , one that includes density ?
Just like specific surface area = 3/(roh*r)
 
The sphere has the smallest surface area per volume. Maybe you already knew that. But it's not clear what you're asking.
 
hagopbul said:
Just like specific surface area = 3/(roh*r)
Never heard of it
hagopbul said:
professor on YouTube
In spite of my answer in #2, not me. But then: WHO ?
hagopbul said:
one that includes density
Did I already ask What density ? And of what ?
 
Presumably you already know that the area of a sphere is ##4πr^2##, and that its volume is ##4/3πr^3##.

That's the least surface area per volume for a closed bounded object in ##\mathbb R^3##.

Is surface area to volume ratio what you mean by density in your question about absorption (and not adsorption?) of radiation?
 
  • #10
hagopbul said:
3/(roh*r)
##\rho## is spelled rho.

"Specific surface area" would be surface area per unit mass. The "specific surface area" of a sphere would be the area of the sphere (##4 \pi r^2##) divided by its mass (##\rho \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3##) yielding a result of ##\frac{3}{\rho r}##

Possibly you are chasing something like absorption per unit mass for spherical pellets of a given density and radius in a uniform omnidirectional light bath. Or, since radiation pressure has been mentioned, possibly we are talking about illumination from a single direction -- in which case we need to divide by four. Both interpretations ignore the problem of self-shading, so perhaps something else entirely is meant.

As has been suggested, we should not have to play guessing games to tease a question out of the questioner.
 
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  • #11
According to wikipedeia:

Specific surface area (SSA) is a property of solids defined as the total surface area of a material per unit of mass,[1] (with units of ##m^2/kg## or ##m^2/g##) or solid or bulk volume[2][3] (units of ##m^2/m^3## or ##m^−1##).​

I was wondering whether the volumetric meaning might have been intended.
 
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jbriggs444 said:
##\rho## is spelled rho. But what ##\rho##r is supposed to denote is anyone's guess.
My guess was that rho meant density and that r meant radius.
"Specific surface area" would be surface area per unit mass. The "specific surface area" of a sphere would be the area of the sphere ##(4 \pi r^2)## divided by its volume (##4/3 \pi r^3##) yielding a result of ##\frac{3}{\rho r}##
I notice that you also guessed that he might have meant per volume rather than per mass by SSA (of a sphere) ##=3/\rho*r##, given that, absent units -- ##gm^3## or ##m^3## -- it could refer to either.
As has been suggested, we should not have to play guessing games to tease a question out of the questioner.
I think I'll have to agree with the grown folks on that. :oldeyes:
 
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