quantity

area

area — from formula anatomy
10 related articles · 6 formulas

Description

Area, in the context of formula anatomy, refers to the geometric measure of a two-dimensional surface. It is a fundamental quantity in physics, appearing in equations that describe everything from the cross-section of scattering processes to the surface area of black holes. The concept is often used to derive other physical quantities, such as flux, pressure, and entropy.

History

The concept of area dates back to ancient civilizations, but its formal mathematical treatment was developed by the Greeks, particularly Euclid and Archimedes. In physics, area became a key variable in the 19th century with the formulation of flux laws by Gauss and Faraday.

How it works

Area is typically calculated by integrating over a surface, or for simple shapes, using geometric formulas. In physics, it often appears as a factor in integrals that compute quantities like electric flux (Gauss's law) or gravitational flux. The area of a surface can also be a dynamic variable, as in general relativity where the area of an event horizon is related to black hole entropy.

In practice

Area calculations are used in engineering for structural analysis, in thermodynamics for heat transfer, and in astrophysics for estimating radiation from stars and black holes.

Fun fact

The area of a black hole's event horizon can never decrease, a law that resembles the second law of thermodynamics and led to the discovery of black hole entropy.

Concept graph →

Formulas

$$S = \frac{k c^3 A}{4 G \hbar}$$
Black hole entropy is proportional to its event horizon area.
What is in the formula
SvariableEntropy of the black hole — entropy joule per kelvin
AvariableArea of the event horizon — area square metre
kconstantBoltzmann constant — boltzmann constant = 1.380649e-23 joule per kelvin
cconstantSpeed of light in vacuum — speed of light = 299792458 metre per second
GconstantNewtonian gravitational constant — gravitational constant = 6.67430e-11 cubic metre per kilogram per second squared
ħconstantReduced Planck constant — reduced planck constant = 1.054571817e-34 joule second
$$S_A = rac{ ext{Area}( ext{minimal surface})}{4G_N}$$
Entanglement entropy of a boundary region equals its minimal surface area in the bulk.
What is in the formula
S_AvariableEntanglement entropy of boundary region A — entanglement entropy
Area(minimal surfacevariableArea of the minimal surface in the bulk homologous to A — area square metre
G_NconstantNewton's gravitational constant in the bulk — gravitational constant = 6.67430e-11 cubic metre per kilogram per second squared
$$S_{\text{gen}} = \frac{A}{4G} + S_{\text{matter}}$$
Generalized entropy includes horizon area and matter entropy.
What is in the formula
S_genvariableGeneralized entropy — entropy joule per kelvin
AvariableArea of the horizon — area square metre
S_mattervariableEntropy of matter outside the horizon — entropy joule per kelvin
GconstantNewton's gravitational constant, determining the strength of gravity — gravitational constant = 6.67430e-11 cubic metre per kilogram per second squared
$$F = \frac{2 A s}{c} \cdot \frac{1 - v/c}{1 + v/c}$$
Force on a moving solar sail due to reflected light.
What is in the formula
FvariableForce on the sail — force newton
AvariableArea of the sail — area square metre
svariablePoynting flux (power per unit area) of incident light — irradiance watt per square metre
vvariableSpeed of the sail relative to the light source — velocity metre per second
cconstantUniversal constant, speed of light in vacuum — speed of light = 299792458 metre per second
\cdotoperatorProduct of quantities — multiplication
\frac{1 - v/c}{1 + voperatorRatio of reflected to incident photon energy and rate — doppler factor squared
$$\dot{M}_{out} = \rho v A$$
Mass outflow rate is density times velocity times area.
What is in the formula
Ṁ_outvariableMass outflow rate — mass flow rate kilogram per second
ρvariableMass density of the outflowing material — mass density kilogram per cubic metre
vvariableFlow velocity perpendicular to the area — velocity metre per second
AvariableCross-sectional area through which material flows — area square metre
$$A = 8\pi M \left(M + \sqrt{M^2 - a^2}\right)$$
The area of a Kerr black hole depends on mass and spin.
What is in the formula
AvariableArea of the event horizon — area square metre
MvariableMass of the black hole — mass kilogram
avariableSpecific angular momentum (angular momentum per unit mass) — specific angular momentum metre
πconstantRatio of a circle's circumference to its diameter — pi = 3.14159

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