A note on instantaneous and time-averaged active and reactive sound intensity

Abstract An overview is presented of the concepts and practical utilities of various “sound intensities”, related to the instantaneous flow of acoustical energy density as observed at a given location. The natures of these various quantities are illustrated and discussed. A principal conclusion is that although the time-averaged sound intensities to date have been found to have the greater usefulness in practice, insight can be gained into the physical significance of these by consideration of their instantaneous counterparts.