Electric flux

Think of air blowing in through a window. How

much air comes through the window depends
upon the speed of the air, the direction of the
air, and the area of the window. We might call
this air that comes through the window the
"air flux".

Electric flux
The field is uniform
The plane is
perpendicular to the
field

E E A

We will define the electric flux for an electric field that is perpendicular to an area as
=EA

Flux for a uniform electric field passing

through an arbitrary plane

The field is uniform

The plane is not
perpendicular to the
field

E E A E A cos

A An

E E A

General flux definition

The field is not
uniform
The surface is not
perpendicular to
the field

n
A

E E n A E A cos

A
N

E Ei n i Ai
i 1

If the surface is made up of a

mosaic of N little surfaces

E E ndA
E dA

Electric Flux, General

In the more general
case, look at a small
area element
E Ei Ai cos i Ei Ai
In general, this
becomes

E lim

Ai 0

E A
i

surface

E dA

If we let the area of each element approach zero, then the number of elements
approaches infinity and the sum is replaced by an integral.

Electric Flux Calculations

The surface integral means the integral
must be evaluated over the surface in
question
In general, the value of the flux will depend
both on the field pattern and on the
surface
The units of electric flux will be N.m2/C2

Electric Flux, Closed Surface

The vectors Ai
point in different
directions
At each point, they
are perpendicular to
the surface
By convention, they
point outward

Closed surfaces
E

E dA
E ndA

n or A point in the direction outward from the closed surface

+Q +

3Q

+Q

Negative Flux(total charge negative)

Zero Flux

Flux from a point charge through a

closed sphere
E

E dA
E ndA

E n E n E
kq
E 2 r E constant
r

E dA E A
E ndA

kq
q
2
E 2 4r 4kq
r
o

sphere

Gausss Law
Gauss asserts that the proceeding calculation for the flux
from a point charge is true for any charge distribution!!!

E dA 4kq

enclosed

This is true so long as Q is the charge

enclosed by the surface of integration.

q enclosed

Example
An electric field with a magnitude of 3.50 kN/C is
applied along the x axis. Calculate the electric
flux through a rectangular plane 0.350 m
wide and 0.700 m long assuming that
(a) the plane is parallel to the yz plane;
(b) the plane is parallel to the xy plane;
(c) the plane contains the y axis, and its normal
makes an angle of 40.0 with the x axis.

E EA cos 3.50 103 0.350 0.700 cos0 858 N m

90.0

E 0

E 3.50 103 0.350 0.700 cos40.0 657 N m

Example
The following charges are located inside a submarine:
5.00 C, 9.00 C, 27.0 C, and 84.0 C.
(a) Calculate the net electric flux through the hull of
the submarine.
(b) Is the number of electric field lines leaving the
submarine greater than, equal to, or less than the
number entering it?
E

qin 5.00 C 9.00 C 27.0 C 84.0 C

6

6.
89

10
N m
0
8.85 1012 C 2 N m 2

C2

Example
A point charge Q = 5.00 C is located at the center of a cube
of edge L = 0.100 m. In addition, six other identical point
charges having q = 1.00 C are positioned symmetrically
around Q as shown in Figure below. Determine the electric
flux through one face of the cube.

 E total

Q6 q

E one face

0
Q6 q
6 0

5.00 6.00 106 C N m2

6 8.85 1012 C2

18.8 kN m2 C

Problem

An electric field is given by E sign( x)(300 N / C ) i , where sign(x)

equals 1 if x < 0, 0 if x = 0, and +1 if x > 0. A cylinder of length
20 cm and radius 4.0 cm has its center at the origin and its axis
along the x axis such that one end is at x = +10 cm and the
other is at x = 10 cm.

(a) What is the electric flux through each end?

(b) What is the electric flux through the curved surface of the
cylinder?
(c) What is the electric flux through the entire closed surface?
(d) What is the net charge inside the cylinder?

The field at both circular faces of the cylinder is parallel to the outward vector
normal to the surface, so the flux is just EA. There is no flux through the curved
surface because the normal to that surface is perpendicular to Er.
The net flux through the closed surface is related to the net charge inside by
Gausss law.

APPLICATION OF GAUSSS LAW TO

CHARGED INSULATORS

Ways of choosing the gaussian

surface
to determine the electric field
Ways of choosing the gaussian surface over
which the surface integral given by Equation

E dA
E ndA

can be simplified and the electric field

determined

In choosing the surface, we should always take advantage of

the symmetry of the charge distribution so that we can
remove E from the integral and solve for it. The goal in this
type of calculation is to determine a surface that satisfies one
or more of the following conditions:
1. The value of the electric field can be argued by
symmetry to be constant over the surface.
2. The dot product in Equation can be expressed as a
simple algebraic product E dA because E and dA are
parallel.
3. The dot product in Equation is zero because E and dA
are perpendicular.

Select a surface
Try to imagine a surface where the electric field is
constant everywhere. This is accomplished if the surface
is equidistant from the charge.
Try to find a surface such that the electric field and the
normal to the surface are either perpendicular or parallel.

Example a line of charge

E
r

total charge

total length
L
1.
2.

Find the correct closed surface

Find the charge inside
that closed surface

q enclosed
E E dA
o

EA

qinside

E (2 rL )
E

2k
r

L
0

Example
A uniformly charged, straight filament 7.00 m in length has a
total positive charge of 2.00 C. An uncharged cardboard
cylinder 2.00 cm in length and 10.0 cm in radius surrounds the
filament at its center, with the filament as the axis of the
cylinder. Using reasonable approximations,
find

(a) the electric field at the surface of the cylinder and

(b) the total electric flux through the cylinder.

qenclosed

E dA

E ndA
E

Er (2 rL )

dA

E Acylinder

qenclosed

qenclosed charge over length of cylinder=

Er (2 rL )

Er

9
2ke 2 8.99 10 N m
E

Q
7

4 o r
2

qenclosed

Q L
7 o

k
r

C 2 2.00 106 C 7.00 m

0.100 m

E EA cos E 2 r cos0

Q
xL
7

E 51.4 kN C ,radially outw ard

E 5.14 104 N C 2 0.100 m 0.020 0 m

1.00

646 N m

Example a charged plane

E
+Q

total charge

total area
1.
2.

Find the correct closed surface

Find the charge inside
that closed surface

Qenclosed
E E dA
o

Example a charged plane

2 EA

E
+Q

qinside

0
A
2 EA
0

E
2 0

total charge

total area
1.
2.

Find the correct closed surface(cylinder)

Find the charge inside
that closed surface

Qenclosed
E E dA
o

Example a solid sphere of charge

total charge

total volume

+Q uniformly distributed

E
Inside the charged sphere:
a

ra
1.
2.

Find the correct closed surface

Find the charge inside
that closed surface

q enclosed
E E dA
o

Example a solid sphere of charge

total charge

total volume

+Q uniformly distributed

E
Outside the charged sphere:
a

r a
1.
2.

Find the correct closed surface

Find the charge inside
that closed surface

q enclosed
E E dA
o

PROBLEM

A non-conducting sphere of radius 6.00 cm has a uniform

volume charge density of 450 nC/m3. (a) What is the total
charge on the sphere?

Find the electric field at the following distances from the

spheres center: (b) 2.00 cm,
(c) 5.90 cm, (d) 6.10 cm, and (e) 10.0 cm.

Ans: (a)0.407 nc (b)339 N/C1KN/C(d)983N/C(e)366 N/C

(e)

PROBLEM
A sphere of radius R has volume charge density = B/r for r
< R , where B is a constant and = 0 for r > R.
(a) Find the total charge on the sphere.
(b) Find the expressions for the electric field inside and
outside the charge distribution
(c) Sketch the magnitude of the electric field as a function
of the distance r from the spheres center.

CONDUCTORS IN ELECTROSTATIC
EQUILIBRIUM
Insulators, like the previous charged sphere, trap excess
charge so it cannot move.
Conductors have free electrons not bound to any atom.
The electrons are free to move about within the material.
If excess charge is placed on a conductor, the charge winds
up on the surface of the conductor. Why?
The electric field inside a conductor is always zero.
The electric field just outside a conductor is perpendicular
to the conductors surface and has a magnitude, /o

Einside = 0, cont.
Before the external field is applied, free
electrons are distributed throughout the
conductor
When the external field is applied, the electrons
redistribute until the magnitude of the internal
field equals the magnitude of the external field
There is a net field of zero inside the conductor
This redistribution takes about 10-15s and can be
considered instantaneous

Charge Resides on the Surface

Choose a gaussian surface
inside but close to the actual
surface
The electric field inside is
zero (prop. 1)
There is no net flux through
the gaussian surface
Because the gaussian
surface can be as close to
the actual surface as
desired, there can be no
charge inside the surface

Charge Resides on the Surface,

cont
Since no net charge can be inside the
surface, any net charge must reside on
the surface
Gausss law does not indicate the
distribution of these charges, only that it
must be on the surface of the conductor

Fields Magnitude and Direction

Choose a cylinder as
the gaussian surface

The field must be

perpendicular to the
surface

Fields Magnitude and Direction,

cont.
The net flux through the gaussian surface
is through only the flat face outside the
conductor
The field here is perpendicular to the surface

Applying Gausss law

A

E EA
and E
o
o

Conductors in Equilibrium,
example
The field lines are
perpendicular to
both conductors
There are no field
lines inside the
cylinder

Example a solid conducting sphere of

charge surrounded by a conducting shell
+2Q on inner sphere
-Q on outer shell
c

Find the Electric Field:

ra
arb
r c
brc

E
b

At inner surface of shell, gaussian surface

Since E=0, Qenc=0=charge on inner
sphere+charge on inner surface of shell
Therefore charge on inner shell=-2Q

1.
2.

Find the correct closed surface

Find the charge inside
that closed surface

q enclosed
E E dA
o

Example
Consider a thin spherical shell of radius 14.0 cm with a total
charge of 32.0 C distributed uniformly on its surface.
Find the electric field
(a) 10.0 cm and
(b) 20.0 cm from the center of the charge distribution.
k Q 8.99 10 32.0 10
E

7.19 M N
6

e
2

0.200

Example P24.43
A square plate of copper with 50.0-cm sides has no net charge
and is placed in a region of uniform electric field of 80.0
kN/C directed perpendicularly to the plate. Find
(a) the charge density of each face of the plate and
(b) the total charge on each face.

8.00 104 8.85 1012 7.08 107 C m 2

Q A 7.08 107 0.500 C

2

Q 1.77 107 C 177 nC

Example
A long, straight wire is surrounded by a hollow metal
cylinder whose axis coincides with that of the wire. The
wire has a charge per unit length of , and the cylinder
has a net charge per unit length of 2. From this
information, use Gausss law to find (a) the charge per
unit length on the inner and outer surfaces of the
cylinder and (b) the electric field outside the cylinder, a
distance r from the axis.
0 qin

qin

2ke 3 6ke
3

radially outw ard

r
r
2 0 r

Recall

Del

Grad

Vector operator acts on a scalar

field to generate a vector field
Example

Div

Vector operator acts on a

vector field to generate a scalar
field
Example

Curl

Vector operator acts on a

vector field to generate a vector
field
Example

Gausss Theorem (differential form)

Gauss' divergence theorem relates triple integrals and
surface integrals.
Applying the Divergence Theorem

The integral and differential form of Gausss Theorem

Qin

del operator
x

y z
x
y
z

This is a vector operator.

Examples of derivative operators:

scalar

d
:
dx

vector

d
:
dx

d
sin x cos x
dx
d
sin x x cos x
dx
d
d

x
sin
x

sin x cos x

dx
dx
d
d

y
sin
x

y
sin x z cos x

dx
dx

Example
E x, y, z x sin x y 3 y z xy
Find E x, y, z

E x, y, z x y z x sin x y 3 y z xy
y
z
x

E x, y, z sin x 3 y xy
y
z
x

E x, y, z cos x 3 0 3 cos x

Example: Problem
If the electric field in some region is given (in spherical
coordinates) by the expression

where A and B are constants, what is the

charge density ?