CH 22

22
Gausss Law
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14
Charge and Electric Flux

Calculating Electric Flux
Gausss Law
Applications of Gausss Law
Charges on Conductors
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Symmetric vs. Asymmetric

Charge distributions
Systems with symmetry
Systems without symmetry
Gausss Law makes E-field

calculation easier.
Gausss Law also applies but more

difficult.

Gausss Law
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What is Gausss Law?
relationship between electric charges and electric fields
imaginary surface
What is the Electric field

(on the surface)?
applicable for both continuous and discrete charge distribution
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Gausss Law
Objectives
1. Evaluate the electric flux through a surface given the electric
field
2. Relate the electric flux thru a closed surface to the total charge
inside and outside the surface

Gausss Law
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Electric Flux and Enclosed Charge

Note: Electric field does not flow.
points out of the surface
points into of the surface

Inward electric flux
Outward electric flux
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Gausss Law

3 cases in which there is zero net charge inside a box and
no net electric flux through the surface of the box.
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Gausss Law
Main points:
The net electric flux due to a charge distribution inside a closed surface is
independent of the size and shape of the closed surface.
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Gausss Law

Main points:
The net electric flux due to a charge distribution inside a closed surface
depends only on the net charge inside.
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Gausss Law
Qualitative Statements of Gausss Law

1.
Whether there is a net outward or inward electric flux through a closed surface
depends on the sign of the enclosed charge.
2.
Charges outside the closed surface do not give a net electric flux through
the surface.
3.
The net electric flux is directly proportional to the net amount of charge
enclosed within the surface but is otherwise independent of the size of the
closed surface.
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Gausss Law
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Example:
Charge +2q is at the center of two cubes of different side lengths L and
2L as shown. The total flux through the small and big cubes are small
and big, respectively. Also Esmall and Ebig are the magnitudes of the
electric field passing through the corners of the small and big cubes,
respectively. Which of the following relations is/are true?
A. small = big; Esmall = Ebig

B. small > big; Esmall > Ebig
C. small < big; Esmall = Ebig
D. small = big; Esmall < Ebig
E. small = big; Esmall > Ebig
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Gausss Law
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General definition of electric flux
where
Uniform Electric Field
Non-uniform Electric Field
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Gausss Law
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Flux of a Uniform Electric Field
Define:
: electric flux
number of field lines crossing a surface
(electric flux for uniform
, flat surface)
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Gausss Law
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Note:
Case 1.
: unit vector perpendicular to A
Case 2.
Case 3.
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Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
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Example:
A uniform electric field given by
is incident on a flat square sheet lying on the xy-plane. If the

length of the sides is 3 m, what is the absolute value of the
electric flux through the sheet?
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Gausss Law
Objective
1. Express Gausss law verbally and mathematically
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Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
alternative to Coulombs Law
a different way of expressing the relationship between electric charge

and electric field
formulated by Carl Friedrich Gauss
Recall:
Gausss Law
(qualitative)
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Gausss Law
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Point Charge inside a Spherical Surface
Consider a point charge +q placed at the center of a spherical Gaussian surface with radius R.
: Outward and perpendicular to any point on the Gaussian surface
+q
R
has the same value at any point on the surface.
(Flux is independent of radius R of sphere)

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Gausss Law
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2 spheres with radii R and 2R centered on the point charge +q

4dA
dA
q
2R
The same number of field lines and the same flux

pass through bothJ. Manuel
of these
area elements.
Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14
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Gausss Law
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Point Charge inside a Non-spherical Surface
For irregular surface:

If enclosed charge is positive (+q):
+q
Holds for any size or shape of closed surface
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Gausss Law
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If enclosed charge is negative (-q):
-q
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Gausss Law

If there is no enclosed charge:
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Gausss Law
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General form of Gausss Law
q1
q2
qn
Enclosed charge
Electric field
on Gaussian surface
Electric flux
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Gausss Law
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General form of Gausss Law
q1
q2
qn
Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
Example:
A positive point charge Q is located at the center of a cube of
side-length L. In addition, six other identical positive point
charges q are positioned symmetrically around Q, as shown
in the figure. What is the electric flux through one face of the
cube?
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Gausss Law
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Seatwork (for 2 minutes):
Which of the following closed surfaces has the most positive

electric flux through it?
A. S1
B. S5
S2
C. S2
S5
D. S3
S3
Legend:
+q
-q
S4
S1
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Gausss Law
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Homework (due tomorrow):
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Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
Objective
1. Use Gausss law to calculate the electric field generated at a
point by highly symmetrical charge distributions.
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Gausss Law
Gausss Law
valid for any distribution of charges and for any closed surface
Two applications:
1. Symmetric charge distribution + evaluate integral = electric field
2. Electric field + Gausss Law = knowledge of charge distribution

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Gausss Law
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For a solid conductor
any excess charge must

reside on the surface
inside
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Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
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Consider a solid spherical conductor of radius R and charge

+Q at electrostatic equilibrium shown below. Which is the
correct ranking of the Points A, B, C, and D according the
value of the electric field at their locations?
A. D > C > B > A

B. D > C > B = A
C. D = C > B = A
D. C > D > B = A
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Gausss Law
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22

Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
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A Gaussian cube of side s is placed inside a uniformly charged

insulating sphere of radius 2s and charge Q. What is the
electric flux on the Gaussian cube?
A. 3Q/(32o)
Hint:
B. 32Q/(3o)
C. 3Q/(32o)
D. 32Q/(3o)
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Gausss Law
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22

Gausss Law
Gausss Law
valid for any distribution of charges and for any closed surface
Two applications:
1. Symmetric charge distribution + evaluate integral = electric field
2. Electric field + Gausss Law = knowledge of charge distribution

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Gausss Law
Objective
1. Predict the charge distribution induced on the surface of a
conductor in the presence of a static charge and external
electric field
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Gausss Law
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Charges on a conductor
For a solid conductor in electrostatic situation,
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Gausss Law
Question:
But what if there is a cavity inside the

conductor?
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Gausss Law
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For a conductor with internal cavity,
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Gausss Law
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If we insert an isolated charge q inside the cavity,
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Gausss Law
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Gausss Law
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A spherical conducting shell S1 is placed inside another spherical

conducting shell S3. The space between S1 and S3 is filled by an
uncharged insulator S2. The isolated charge within the cavity is +2Q. If
the net charge of S1 is 4Q and the net charge of S3 is 4Q, what is the
net charge of the following surfaces?
Inner surface of S1
A. Q
B. +Q
C. +2Q
D. 2Q
Outer surface of S1
A. Q
B. +6Q
C. +4Q
D. Q
Inner surface of S3
A. 6Q
B. +3Q
C. +4Q
D. 3Q
B. +3Q
C. +2Q
D. 4Q
Outer surface of S3
A. Q
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Gausss Law
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Example:
A small conducting spherical shell with inner radius a and outer radius b is
concentric with a larger conducting spherical shell with inner radius c and
outer radius d. The inner shell has total charge +2q, and the
outer shell has charge +4q.
Calculate the electric field magnitude in terms of k, q and r from the
common center of the spheres.
1. r < a
2. a < r < b
3. b < r < c
4. c < r < d
5. r > d
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Gausss Law
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Example:
Which of the following can be true regarding the figure shown below?
I. The electric field at S is stronger than at P.
II. There is a point charge at point Q.
III. There are negative charges at point L.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
I only
I and II only
II and III only
I and III only
I, II and III
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CH 22

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J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

Symmetric vs. Asymmetric

Systems without symmetry

Gausss Law makes E-field

Gausss Law also applies but more

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

relationship between electric charges and electric fields

What is the Electric field

applicable for both continuous and discrete charge distribution

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

Electric Flux and Enclosed Charge

points out of the surface

points into of the surface

Outward electric flux

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

Electric Flux and Enclosed Charge

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

Electric Flux and Enclosed Charge

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

Electric Flux and Enclosed Charge

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

Qualitative Statements of Gausss Law

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

A. small = big; Esmall = Ebig

Charge and Electric Flux

Uniform Electric Field

Non-uniform Electric Field

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

number of field lines crossing a surface

(electric flux for uniform

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

: unit vector perpendicular to A

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

is incident on a flat square sheet lying on the xy-plane. If the

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

a different way of expressing the relationship between electric charge

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Charge and Electric Flux

(Flux is independent of radius R of sphere)

Charge and Electric Flux

2 spheres with radii R and 2R centered on the point charge +q

The same number of field lines and the same flux

Charge and Electric Flux