UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK

Mathematics, Science & Research Department
General Physics 2
Module 2: Electric Flux and Gauss’s Law

ELECTRIC FIELD

From: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsiteproxy.ruqli.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fupload.wikimedia.org

Electric field is the amount of Force felt by a unit charge placed within that field. The test charge used
is usually positive and is of negligible charge that it does not affect the field to which it is put into. The
equation for the electric field is

𝑭
𝑬=
𝒒𝒐
But using our equation for Coulomb’s Law will enable us to get the equation

𝒌𝒒𝒒𝟎 /𝒓𝟐 𝒌𝒒
𝑬= = 𝟐
𝒒𝟎 𝒓

For multiple charges, the Electric field at any point within space is the vector sum of all the electric fields
within the vicinity.

Sample Problem 1. Two particles, 1.5 mm apart have charges 1.0 µC and 4.0 µC respectively. At what
point between the charges is there no electric field?
𝑁𝑚2
Given: 𝑘 = 9.0 × 109 𝐶2
q1 q2
−6
𝑞1 = 1.0 × 10 𝐶
r1 r2
𝑞2 = 4.0 × 10−6 𝐶

𝑑 = 1.5 × 10−6 𝑚 d=1.5mm

Required: 𝑟1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟2
𝑘𝑞𝑞0 /𝑟 2 𝑘𝑞
Equation: 𝐸 = =
𝑞0 𝑟2

Solution:

𝐸 = 𝐸1 − 𝐸2 = 0 so 𝐸1 = 𝐸2 1 2
=
𝑘𝑞1 𝑘𝑞2
𝑟1 𝑑 − 𝑟1
= but 𝑟2 = 𝑑 − 𝑟1
𝑟1 2 𝑟2 2
𝑑 − 𝑟1 = 2𝑟1
𝑘𝑞1 𝑘𝑞
= (𝑑−𝑟2 )2 , 3𝑟1 = 𝑑
𝑟1 2 1

cancel out 𝑘 and transposing 𝑞1 𝑑 1.5 × 10−3

𝑟1 = =
3 3
1 𝑞2 /𝑞1
= 𝑟1 = 5 × 10−4 𝑚 𝑜𝑟 0.5 𝑚𝑚
𝑟1 2 (𝑑 − 𝑟1 )2
𝑟2 = 𝑑 − 𝑟1 = 1.5 × 10−3 − 5 × 10−4
1 4
√ 2=√
𝑟1 (𝑑 − 𝑟1 )2 𝑟2 = 1.0 × 10−3 𝑚 𝑜𝑟 1.0𝑚𝑚

Answer: There is no electric field in points 0.5 𝑚𝑚 and 1.0𝑚𝑚 between the charges.

ELECTRIC FLUX
- Electric flux is the property of an electric field which determines the number of electric field lines
that passes through an area. (Brittanica dictionary)

- It is the total number of electric field lines passing through a given area per unit of time. (byjus.com)
 From: byjus.com

The electric flux could be computed by multiplying the electric field with the effective area of the
plane it passes through.

𝚽𝑬 = 𝑬𝑨𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽

Using this equation, we could see that if the plane is perpendicular to the electric field 𝜃 = 0 so
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = cos 0 = 1. So this would give the maximum electric flux. On the other hand, if the plane is
parallel to the electric field, 𝜃 = 90 and 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = cos 90 = 0. The electric flux would be zero.

If instead of a plane we use an enclosed surface, like a box. The electric flux entering the box is
negative. The electric flux leaving the box would be positive. Adding these two magnitudes would
give a total electric flux of zero.

GAUSS’S LAW

Discovered by Karl Friedrich Gauss, this law relates the electric flux through any enclosed surface
to the total charge inside that surface.

𝒒
𝚽𝑬 =
𝜺𝟎

But what is important with Gauss’s law is the formulation of an imaginary surface to enclose the
charge. We call this imaginary surface as Gaussian surface.

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GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Electric field for a Point Charge

For a point charge, we need to use a Gaussian surface that is symmetrical to the electric field of
created by the point charge. Since the point charge radiates the electric field in all direction, the
Gaussian surface applicable is a sphere.

From:https://wolgemuthe.p401.netsd/

𝚽𝑬 = 𝑬𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆

but 𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 = 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐 so

𝚽𝑬 = 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝑬

And using this in our previous equation and solving for 𝐸

𝒒
𝚽𝑬 = 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝑬 =
𝜺𝟎

𝒒 𝒌𝒒
𝑬= =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝜺𝟎 𝒓𝟐

Electric field for a Line of Charge

A different Gaussian surface is used for line of charge since the electric field created by the line of
charge radiates outward from the line of charges, perpendicular to the line. Thus a sphere is no
longer applicable. For this purpose, it would be better to use a cylinder to enclose the electric field.
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GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
 From: www.chegg.com

𝚽𝑬 = 𝑬𝑨𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 = 𝑬(𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒉)

The total charge within the Gaussian surface is equal to the charge per unit of length multiplied by
the total length of the cylinder.

𝑸
𝒒= ×𝒉
𝑳

𝑸𝒉/𝑳
𝚽𝑬 = 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒉𝑬 =
𝜺𝟎

𝑸
𝑬=
𝟐𝝅𝒓𝑳𝜺𝟎

Electric field for a Plane (Flat Sheet) of Charge

The sheet would have a charge per unit area that radiates an electric field outward (inward)
perpendicular to the face of the plane. The Gaussian surface that will be used is also a cylinder but
this would be in an upright position.

Since the sheet would be radiating the electric field upward and downward, the flux would be

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GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
 From: https://www.meritnation.com/

𝚽𝑬 = 𝑬𝟐𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓

The charge enclosed by the cylinder is equal to the charge per unit area (𝜎) or sheet charge density
multiplied by the Area (A) enclosed by the cylinder. 𝑞 = 𝜎 × 𝐴

So using this in the Gaussian equation.

𝝈𝑨
𝚽𝑬 = 𝑬𝟐𝑨 =
𝜺𝟎

𝝈
𝑬=
𝟐𝜺𝟎

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GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
 1. An isolated electron experiences an electric force of 3.2 x 10 -14 N. What is the magnitude of
the electric field at this location?
2. Two charges, – 4.0 micro coulomb and – 5.0 micro coulomb are separated by a distance of 20
cm. What is the electric field midway between the two charges?

1. What is electrical potential energy?

2. How is it similar or different from gravitational and elastic potential energy?
3. What is electric potential difference?

BOOK - General Physics 2. Rex Bookstore

Physics 4th edition by W. Bufa
INTERNET - Electric Field Lines Exercise (physicsclassroom.com)

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GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT