SethMotilal (P.G.

) College
Department Of Physics

PRESENTED BY NIKITA JANGIR

ROLL NO. 22
DATED DEC. 8,2016
 Content

1. Introduction
2. History
3. Poynting Theorem & its Mathematical Statement
4. Physical Interpretation of each term
5. Poynting Vector
6. Significance of Poynting Theorem
7. Example
1. Introduction :-

A propagating EM wave carries energy with it. Physically this makes

sense to us when we listen to the radio or talk on a cellphone. These
types of wireless communications are possible because EM waves
carry energy.
In these examples, some of this EM energy is used to oscillate
electrons in the metal parts of the receiving antenna of our radio or
cellphone, which ultimately results in wireless communications.
Theres a precise mathematical definition of the time rate of energy
flow (i.e.,power flow) for EM waves.
 2. History :-
John Henry Poynting was an English physicist. He
John Henry Poynting (1852-1914) was a professor of physics at Mason Science College (now the
University of Birmingham) from 1880 until his death.

He was the developer and eponym of the Poynting

vector, which describes the direction and magnitude of
electromagnetic energy flow and is used in the Poynting
theorem, a statement about energy conservation for
electric and magnetic fields. This work was first published in
1884. He performed a measurement of Newton's gravitational
constant by innovative means during 1893. In 1903 he was the
first to realize that the Sun's radiation can draw in small
particles towards it. This was later coined the Poynting-
Robertson effect.

In the year 1884 he analyzed the futures exchange prices of

commodities using statistical mathematics.
3. Poynting Theorem & its
Mathematical Statement ;-
Poyntings theorem is the statement of conservation of energy in
classical electrodynamics. It ties together mechanical (kinetic)
energy & the energy stored in electromagnetic fields. Thereby
justifying the formula :

1 2
V E J dv t V 2 E 2 H dv S E H d s
2 1
.Eq. (1)

Electrostatic Magnetic Ingoing power flux

Total dissipated energy energy over the surface S
power within the stored within stored within
volume v at any the volume v the volume v
instant due to
ohmic losses
4.Physical Interpretation;-
Lets get the physical
interpretation of each term of the equation written in slide 6th. We consider the
equation term by term .
Term 1st :-
The power flow dissipated per unit volume is always given by E.J &

therefore the term (E.J) dv ( say equation 2) represents the total power
dissipated in a volume V.
In particular , when E represents the electric field strength required to produce
the current density J in the conduction medium , the equation (2) represents
power dissipated as ohmic (IR) loss.
But if the E is an electric field strength due to a source of power, like due to a
battery , then the power represented by eq.(2) would be used to driving current
against the battery voltage and hence charging the battery .
if the direction of E is opposite to that of J then dissipated power represented
by equation(2) i.e. term 1st in equation(1) would be negative . In this case, the
battery would be generating power.
 Term 2nd :-
In first term on the RHS, the quantity ( E )/2 , in
electrostatics represents the energy density or stored
electric energy per unit volume of electric field. Also in
steady magnetic fields the quantity () H represents the
magnetic energy stored in the volume V . Lets assume
that these quantities continue to represent the stored
energy densities for time varying fields as well. Then the
integral (term in eq.1) represents the time rate at which the
stored total energy inside the volume is decreasing.
Term 3rd :-
We use the conservation of energy to interpret the last term of eq.1st ,the term 3rd .
The rate of energy dissipation in the volume V must be equal to the rate at which
the stored energy inside the volume is decreasing plus the rate at which energy is
entering the volume V from outside.
Thus term - E x H ds of equation 1st represents the rate of flow energy inward
through the surface of the volume .
Thus the expression E x H .ds (say eq. 3) without the negative sign represents the
rate of flow of energy outward through the surface enclosed by the volume.
The interpretation of eq.3rd leads to the conclusion that the integral of E x H over
any closed surface gives the rate of energy flow through that surface. It is seen that
the vector E x H has the dimension of watts per square meter. It is the Poynting
Theorem .
5. Poynting Vector :-

Thevector product P = E x H (say eq. 4) at

any point is a measure of rate of energy flow
per unit area at that point ; the direction of
energy flow is perpendicular to E and H in the
direction of the vector E x H .
6. Significance of Poynting Theorem :-

Without going into full details , Poyntings theorem gives the

poynting vector , which indicates the direction of energy for an EM
wave. This is important because therere cases where the direction
of energy of the wave is different from its wave velocity (wave
vector usually defined by K ).
The Poynting Theorem is used to calculate the amount of energy
distributing out per unit volume in an EM field per unit time . It gives
an oversight into the amount of energy being transferred from one
point under the influence of electrical and magnetic fields.
7.Example:-

Power flow for a uniform plane wave.

Uniform plane wave travels in the free space with velocity of light c
c = V =1/() = 3 x 10^8 m/s
The total energy density due to Electric and Magnetic fields is
given by ,
() ( E+ H)
For a wave travelling with a velocity V the rate of flow of energy
per unit area is ,
P = (1/2) ( E+ H) V {Eq. 4}
We know that for a uniform plane wave,
E/H = (/) =
Therefor eq.(4) becomes ,

P = () { (/) E x H + (/) E x H } V
P = ( E x H/V ) V
i.e. P=ExH
which is Poynting vector.
Thanks ;)