intensity (physics)

In physics, intensity is the power transferred per unit area, where the area is an imagined surface that is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the energy. In the SI system, it has units watts per square metre (W/m²). It is used most frequently with waves (e.g. sound or light), in which case the average power transfer over one period of the wave is used. Intensity can be applied to other circumstances where energy is transferred. For example, one could calculate the intensity of the kinetic energy carried by drops of water from a garden sprinkler.