area — from formula anatomyArea, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| S | variable | Entropy of the black hole — entropy joule per kelvin |
| A | variable | Area of the event horizon — area square metre |
| k | constant | Boltzmann constant — boltzmann constant = 1.380649e-23 joule per kelvin |
| c | constant | Speed of light in vacuum — speed of light = 299792458 metre per second |
| G | constant | Newtonian gravitational constant — gravitational constant = 6.67430e-11 cubic metre per kilogram per second squared |
| ħ | constant | Reduced Planck constant — reduced planck constant = 1.054571817e-34 joule second |
| S_A | variable | Entanglement entropy of boundary region A — entanglement entropy |
| Area(minimal surface | variable | Area of the minimal surface in the bulk homologous to A — area square metre |
| G_N | constant | Newton's gravitational constant in the bulk — gravitational constant = 6.67430e-11 cubic metre per kilogram per second squared |
| S_gen | variable | Generalized entropy — entropy joule per kelvin |
| A | variable | Area of the horizon — area square metre |
| S_matter | variable | Entropy of matter outside the horizon — entropy joule per kelvin |
| G | constant | Newton's gravitational constant, determining the strength of gravity — gravitational constant = 6.67430e-11 cubic metre per kilogram per second squared |
| F | variable | Force on the sail — force newton |
| A | variable | Area of the sail — area square metre |
| s | variable | Poynting flux (power per unit area) of incident light — irradiance watt per square metre |
| v | variable | Speed of the sail relative to the light source — velocity metre per second |
| c | constant | Universal constant, speed of light in vacuum — speed of light = 299792458 metre per second |
| \cdot | operator | Product of quantities — multiplication |
| \frac{1 - v/c}{1 + v | operator | Ratio of reflected to incident photon energy and rate — doppler factor squared |
| Ṁ_out | variable | Mass outflow rate — mass flow rate kilogram per second |
| ρ | variable | Mass density of the outflowing material — mass density kilogram per cubic metre |
| v | variable | Flow velocity perpendicular to the area — velocity metre per second |
| A | variable | Cross-sectional area through which material flows — area square metre |


