Light Intensity

[ellipsis]

This may seem like a very basic question, but...

Since light exhibits two properties, can light intensity be thought of as the amplitude when it's a wave, and the number of particles present in a certain area when it's a particle?

Thanks!!!

[swansont]

Yes.

[ellipsis]

I read something about the amplitude of the wave. It said that the amplitude of a wave shows how much energy the wave has, which in turn suggests that intensity is related to energy. But isn't the energy of light related to the frequency?

[Riogho]

Energy is related to frequency. Energy and Intensity have nothing to do with each other. Your source is all screwed up.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

Depends on what you mean by "intensity". Wikipedia says there are four ways you can define it. Which do you mean?

[Klaynos]

The energy of individule photons is related to frequency, but the intensity is a measure of the energy of a light beam.

[ellipsis]

Well, I found out about the amplitude of a wave here: http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/waves/u10l2c.html

Since amplitude also shows intensity, I want to know if intensity is related to energy.

I didn't know there are that many "intensities"...

Klaynos, what do you mean by "measure of the energy of a light beam"?

[Klaynos]

Well it's normally an average (over time) of the energy flux (that's energy/unit area).

[ellipsis]

I see... Thank you all for replying!

[vosh]

The energy of individule photons is related to frequency, but the intensity is a measure of the energy of a light beam.

 

I am currently struggling to understand this. Yeah... Anyone who wants to expand on it, I would be much obliged.

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Consecutive posts merged

I am currently struggling to understand this. Yeah... Anyone who wants to expand on it, I would be much obliged.

 

Looking around, I found one explanation that made sense to me. Frequency is associated with the energy of individual photons, and amplitude is associated with the number of photons per unit area. I guess that follows. A brighter light is more light... Huh, I hate how after wrestling with something it seems like it should have been obvious in the beginning. I 'toopid.

[proton]

Yes.

 

I disagree. The intensity of light is not proportional to the amplitude but to the square of the amplitude.