Poynting vector

English

Etymology

After English physicist John Henry Poynting (1852–1914).

Noun

Poynting vector (plural Poynting vectors)

1. (electromagnetism) The vector obtained in the direction of a right-hand screw from the cross product (vector product) of the electric field vector rotated into the magnetic field vector of an electromagnetic wave. Note: The Poynting vector, with transmission media parameters and constants, gives the irradiance and direction of propagation of the electromagnetic wave. Mathematically: ${\displaystyle {\vec {P}}={\vec {E}}\times {\vec {H}}}$.

Related terms

• Poynting theorem