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UV Light Intensity Formula:
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UV Light Intensity (I) measures the power of ultraviolet radiation per unit area. It quantifies how much UV energy is delivered to a surface and is crucial for applications like sterilization, curing, and phototherapy.
The calculator uses the fundamental physics formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the irradiance or power density of UV light, representing how concentrated the UV energy is over a given surface area.
Details: Accurate UV intensity calculation is essential for determining effective dosages in medical treatments, ensuring proper curing in manufacturing processes, and verifying sterilization efficacy in healthcare settings.
Tips: Enter the total power output of your UV source in watts and the area being illuminated in square meters. Ensure both values are positive numbers for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is a typical UV intensity range for sterilization?
A: For effective microbial inactivation, UV-C intensity typically ranges from 10-100 W/m² depending on exposure time and target microorganisms.
Q2: How does distance affect UV intensity?
A: UV intensity follows the inverse square law - it decreases with the square of the distance from the source. Doubling the distance reduces intensity to one-quarter.
Q3: What units are used for UV intensity measurement?
A: The standard SI unit is watts per square meter (W/m²), though milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²) is also commonly used (1 mW/cm² = 10 W/m²).
Q4: How accurate is this calculation for real-world applications?
A: This provides theoretical maximum intensity. Actual values may be lower due to factors like reflector efficiency, lamp aging, and environmental absorption.
Q5: Can this calculator be used for all UV wavelengths?
A: Yes, the formula applies to all electromagnetic radiation. However, biological effects vary significantly across UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C spectrums.