ELECTROSTATICS - III

Gauss’s Theorem
Dr. B Manna
1. Area Vector, Solid Angle, Electric Flux
2. Gauss’s Theorem and its Proof
3. Coulomb’s Law from Gauss’s Theorem
4. Applications of Gauss’s Theorem:
Electric Field Intensity due to Line Charge, Plane
Sheet of Charge and Spherical Shell
 Area Vector: n
Small area of a surface can be represented by a vector. dS

dS = dS n
dS
Electric Flux: S
Electric flux linked with any surface is defined as the total number of electric
lines of force that normally pass through that surface.
Electric flux dΦ through a small area dS dS
element dS due to an electric field E at an 90°
θ
angle θ with dS is
dS
dΦ = E . dS = E dS cos θ
dS
Total electric flux Φ over the whole θ E
surface S due to an electric field E is S

Φ= E . dS = E S cos θ = E . S
S
Electric flux is a scalar quantity. But it is a θ
property of vector field. dS

SI unit of electric flux is N m2 C-1 or J m C -1.

Special Cases:
1. For 0° < θ < 90°, Φ is positive.
2. For θ = 90°, Φ is zero.
3. For 90° < θ < 180°, Φ is negative.

Solid Angle:
Solid angle is the three-dimensional equivalent of an ordinary two-
dimensional plane angle.
SI unit of solid angle is steradian.
Solid angle subtended by area element dS at the r
centre O of a sphere of radius r is

dS cos θ θ n
dΩ = dS
r2
r
dS cos θ
Ω = dΩ = = 4π steradian dΩ
r 2
S S
Gauss’s Theorem:
The surface integral of the electric field intensity over any closed hypothetical
surface (called Gaussian surface) in free space is equal to 1 / ε0 times the net
charge enclosed within the surface.
1 n
ΦE = E . dS = ε ∑ qi
0 i=1
S
Proof of Gauss’s Theorem for Spherically Symmetric Surfaces:
1 q
dΦ = E . dS = r . dS n E
4πε0 r 2

1 q dS
dΦ = r . n r dS
4πε0 r2
O•
+q r
Here, r . n = 1 x 1 cos 0° = 1

1 q dS
dΦ =
4πε0 r2
1 q 1 q q
ΦE = dΦ = dS = 4π r2 =
4πε0 r2 4πε0 r2 ε0
S S
Proof of Gauss’s Theorem for a Closed Surface of any Shape:

1 q E
dΦ = E . dS = r . dS n
4πε0 r2
r

1 q dS θ n
dΦ = r . n dS
4πε0 r2
r
Here, r . n = 1 x 1 cos θ dΩ
= cos θ
+q •

q dS cos θ
dΦ =
4πε0 r2

q q q
ΦE = dΦ = dΩ = 4π =
4πε0 4πε0 ε0
S S
Deduction of Coulomb’s Law from Gauss’s Theorem:
From Gauss’s law,
q
ΦE = E . dS = ε0 E
S

Since E and dS are in the same direction, r dS

q O•
ΦE = E dS = +q r
ε0
S
q
or ΦE = E dS =
ε0
S
q q
E x 4π r =2
or E=
ε0 4πε0 r2

If a charge q0 is placed at a point where E

is calculated, then
qq0
F= which is Coulomb’s Law.
4πε0 r2
Applications of Gauss’s Theorem:
1. Electric Field Intensity due to an Infinitely Long Straight Charged
Wire:
E
dS

C
r

-∞ B A +∞
dS dS

Gaussian surface is a
From Gauss’s law,
l closed surface,
q E E
around a charge
ΦE = E . dS = ε0 distribution, such that
S the electric field
intensity has a single
E . dS = E . dS + E . dS + E . dS fixed value at every
point on the surface.
S A B C

E . dS = E dS cos 90° + E dS cos 90° + E dS cos 0° = E dS = E x 2 π r l

S A B C C
 q λl
= ε0 (where λ is the liner charge density)
ε0

λl
Ex2πrl= ε0

1 λ
or E=
2 πε0 r

or 1 2λ
E=
4 πε0 r
1 2λ
In vector form, E (r) = r
4 πε0 r

The direction of the electric field intensity is radially outward from the positive
line charge. For negative line charge, it will be radially inward.

Note:
The electric field intensity is independent of the size of the Gaussian surface
constructed. It depends only on the distance of point of consideration. i.e. the
Gaussian surface should contain the point of consideration.
2. Electric Field Intensity due to an Infinitely Long, Thin Plane Sheet of
Charge:
σ

dS

l
E

E dS r C E
A
B dS

From Gauss’s law,

q TIP:
ΦE = E . dS = ε0 The field lines remain
S
straight, parallel and
uniformly spaced.
E . dS = E . dS + E . dS + E . dS
S A B C

E . dS = E dS cos 0° + E dS cos 0° + E dS cos 90° = 2E dS = 2E x π r2

S A B C
 q σ π r2
= (where σ is the surface charge density)
ε0 ε0

σ π r2
2Exπr =2
ε0

σ σ
or E= In vector form,
2 ε0 E (l) = l
2 ε0

The direction of the electric field intensity is normal to the plane and away
from the positive charge distribution. For negative charge distribution, it will
be towards the plane.
Note:
The electric field intensity is independent of the size of the Gaussian surface
constructed. It neither depends on the distance of point of consideration nor
the radius of the cylindrical surface.
If the plane sheet is thick, then the charge distribution will be available on
both the sides. So, the charge enclosed within the Gaussian surface will be
twice as before. Therefore, the field will be twice.
σ
E=
ε0
3. Electric Field Intensity due to Two Parallel, Infinitely Long, Thin
Plane Sheet of Charge:
Case 1: σ1 > σ2
σ1 σ2

E1 E1 E1

Region I Region II Region III

E E E
( σ1 > σ2 )

E2 E2 E2

E = E1 + E 2 E = E1 - E2 E = E1 + E 2
σ1 + σ2 σ1 - σ2 σ1 + σ2
E= E= E=
2 ε0 2 ε0 2 ε0
Case 2: + σ1 & - σ2

σ1 σ2

E1 E1 E1

Region I Region II Region III

E E E
( σ1 > σ2 )
( σ1 > σ2 )

E2 E2 E2

E = E1 - E2 E = E1 + E2 E = E1 - E 2
σ1 - σ2 σ1 + σ2 σ1 - σ2
E= E= E=
2 ε0 2 ε0 2 ε0
Case 3: + σ & - σ

σ1 σ2

E1 E1 E1

Region I Region II Region III

E=0 E≠0 E=0

E2 E2 E2

E = E1 - E2 E = E1 + E2 E = E 1 - E2
σ1 - σ2 σ1 + σ2 σ σ1 - σ2
E= =0 E= = E= =0
2 ε0 2 ε0 ε0 2 ε0
4. Electric Field Intensity due to a Uniformed Charged This Spherical
Shell:
E
i) At a point P outside the shell: dS
r
From Gauss’s law, •P
q
ΦE = E . dS = ε0
S q O• R
Since E and dS are in the same direction,
HOLLOW
q
ΦE = E dS = ε0
S
q
or ΦE = E dS = ……… Gaussian Surface
ε0
S
q q Electric field due to a uniformly
E x 4π r = 2
or E= charged thin spherical shell at
ε0 4πε0 r2
a point outside the shell is such
as if the whole charge were
Since q = σ x 4π R2, σ R2
E= concentrated at the centre of
ε0 r2 the shell.
ii) At a point A on the surface of the shell:
From Gauss’s law, E
q dS
ΦE = E . dS = ε0
S •
A
Since E and dS are in the same direction,
q O• R
q
ΦE = E dS = ε0 HOLLOW
S
q
or ΦE = E dS =
ε0
S
q q
E x 4π R = 2
or E=
ε0 4πε0 R2

Electric field due to a uniformly

Since q = σ x 4π R2, σ charged thin spherical shell at
E=
ε0 a point on the surface of the
shell is maximum.
iii) At a point B inside the shell:
From Gauss’s law, E
dS
q
ΦE = E . dS = B
ε0
S •
q O• R
Since E and dS are in the same direction,
r’
q
ΦE = HOLLOW
E dS = ε0
S
q
or ΦE = E dS = ε0 E
S
q 0 Emax
E x 4π r’ = 2
or E=
ε0 4πε0 r’2

(since q = 0 inside the Gaussian surface)

E=0
O
R r
This property E = 0 inside a cavity is
used for electrostatic shielding.
END