Relationship between light amplitude and intensity

[ettojar]

what is the relationship between amplitude and intensity...is intensity just the amplitude squared?

 

[nickdk]

Light intensity is proportional to the square of wave amplitude. So you are correct :)

 

[astrokreng]

The relationship between light amplitude and intensity is that amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position, while intensity is a measure of the amount of energy carried by the wave per unit area. In other words, amplitude is a measure of the physical size of the wave, while intensity is a measure of the strength or brightness of the wave.

It is important to note that intensity is not simply the amplitude squared. While intensity is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude, there are other factors that can affect the intensity of a wave, such as the frequency and wavelength of the wave. Therefore, intensity cannot be solely determined by the amplitude of a wave.

In addition, the relationship between amplitude and intensity can vary depending on the type of wave. For example, in a transverse wave, such as light, the intensity is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude. However, in a longitudinal wave, such as sound, the intensity is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude only when the amplitude is small compared to the wavelength.

In summary, while there is a relationship between light amplitude and intensity, intensity is not just the amplitude squared and it is important to consider other factors when determining the intensity of a wave.