Joule per Second per Square Meter [J/(s·m²)]

The unit joule per second per square meter, written as J/(s·m²), is a measure of heat flux density or radiant flux. Since 1 joule per second equals 1 watt, this unit is equivalent to watt per square meter (W/m²). It represents the amount of energy transferred or radiated through 1 square meter of surface every second.

This unit is widely used in physics, thermodynamics, meteorology, and solar energy studies. Examples include:

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  Measuring solar radiation incident on the Earth’s surface

  
  
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  Evaluating heat transfer through walls, roofs, and other surfaces

  
  
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  Calculating power density in radiant heating or cooling systems

  
  

Mathematically, the heat flux is expressed as:

where q is the flux in J/(s·m²), Q is energy in joules, A is area in m², and t is time in seconds.

For example, solar constant outside Earth’s atmosphere is approximately 1361 J/(s·m²), indicating the power received per square meter from the Sun.

Using J/(s·m²) or W/m² provides a standardized, SI-compliant measure for energy transfer per unit area, replacing older units like cal/cm²·s or Btu/ft²·h in modern engineering and scientific applications.

Erg per Hour per Square Millimeter [erg/(h·mm²)]

The unit erg per hour per square millimeter, written as erg/(h·mm²), measures energy flux density or power per unit area using the cgs system. An erg is defined as the energy required to move 1 dyne over 1 centimeter, or 1 erg = 10⁻⁷ joules. Dividing by hour and mm² provides the rate of energy transfer per small area over time.

This unit is typically used in laboratory-scale physics, radiation experiments, and surface energy studies where small areas and low energy transfers are involved. Applications include:

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  Measuring radiation incident on tiny surfaces

  
  
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  Calorimetry experiments on small samples

  
  
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  Micro-scale energy transfer studies in materials science

  
  

Heat or energy flux can be expressed mathematically as:

where q is energy flux in erg/(h·mm²), E is energy in ergs, A is area in mm², and t is time in hours.

Conversion to SI units:

While largely of historical or specialized use, erg/(h·mm²) provides a convenient cgs-based measure for micro-scale, low-intensity energy transfer in scientific experiments.