Chapter 22

Gauss’s Law
Lecture 1: Sec. 22.1 - 22.3

1
 Goals for Chapter 22 Lecture 01
• To use the electric field at a surface to determine the
charge within the surface.
• To learn the meaning of electric flux and how to
calculate it.
• To learn the relationship between the electric flux
through a surface and the charge within the surface.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

 Chapter 22_L1

Outline
22.1 Electric Flux
22.2 Calculating Electrical Flux
22.3 Gauss's Law

22.4 Applications of Gauss's Law to charged insulators

(1) Point Charge
(2) Spherically Symmetric Charge Distribution
(3) Thin Spherical Shell
(4) A Cylindrically Symmetric Charge Distribution
(5) Non Conducting Plane Sheet of Charge

22.5 Conductors in Electrostatic Equilibrium.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

3
4 22.1. The Electric Flux

• In Ch. 21, the concept of electric field lines is described qualitatively:

Electric field lines of an electric dipole

• In this Chapter, we use the concept of electric flux to describe the

electric field lines quantitatively.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

4
 Flux Notion
• If you want to catch fishes in your net, do you put your net
– Along the fishes flow?
– Or normal to fishes flow?
• Number of fishes you catch in a given time depends on:
– The number of fishes per unit volume (density) and their
velocity
– The area of your net
– The orientation of your net with respect to fishes velocity

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 5

6 ෝ
22.1 Vector Area 𝑨 , and unit vector 𝒏

• A plane surface in the space has:

❖Area A
❖Orientation
• Could be expressed by a vector (Vector Area)
• Magnitude A: the area of the plane
• Direction: perpendicular to the plane.
• Vector Area could be written
• n̂ unit vector perpendicular to the plane
• Example: yz plane has unit vector along x-axis does not matter
positive (nˆ = iˆ ) , or negative (nˆ = −iˆ )
• For any surface (not a plane), n̂ is defined locally.
• For close surface, is always directed outward.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
6
7 22.2.Calculation of electric flux (𝜱 & 𝑬 correlation)
Case I: 𝑬 is uniform, 𝑨 is a rectangular surface
The electric field lines are perpendicular to the plane surface
The number of lines per unit area is proportional to E
1.
No.of lines
By def. : E
A
No. of lines  EA
The product EA is called the Electric Flux
 = EA
2
2 N .m
N 2 N .m
[ ] = [ E ][ A] = .m =  = EA
C C C
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
7
22.2.Calculation of electric flux (𝜱 & 𝑬 correlation)

Case II : The Surface is not perpendicular to the field

E⊥ = E. cos 

 = 60  = 60

A' = A cos 

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

8
9 22.2.Calculation of electric flux (𝜱 & 𝑬 correlation)
Case II : The Surface is not perpendicular to the field
⚫ The normal to the plane surface of area “A” is at an angle 
to the uniform field
⚫ Note that : Number of lines 1.
that cross A equals to number
of line crossing the projected
area A′
Projection of Surface

Inclined Plane Surface

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

9
0
22.2.Calculation of electric flux (𝜱 & 𝑬 correlation)
Case III : The Surface is perpendicular to the field
⚫ The normal to the plane surface of area “A” is at an angle
90° to the uniform field
1.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

10
1 22.2.Calculation of electric flux (𝜱 & 𝑬 correlation)
Case IV: Electric Field is not uniform
and the surface is irregular
• We divide the surface into large
number of small elements, each of an
Ԧ
area ∆𝐴.

• ∆𝐴𝑖 is a vector whose magnitude represents the area of

the i-th element.

• The electric field 𝐸𝑖 can be considered constant on this

small area element.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
11
2 22.2.Calculation of electric flux (𝜱 & 𝑬 correlation)
The electric field is constant on this small area element, the flux through
it can be calculated

1.

The total electric flux is this given by:

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

12
 Example 22.1: Electric flux through a disk

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

13
 Example 22.1: Solution

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

14
5 Example 22.2 : Flux through a cube
Consider a uniform electric field 𝐸 oriented in the x direction. Find the
net electric flux through the surfaces of a cube of edges ℓ oriented as
shown ?

1.

Surface (2)  = 1 +  2
E is parallel to d A  = − EA1 + EA2
 = 0 , cos = 1  = E ( A2 − A1 )
Φ2 =  EdA2 cos θ = E  dA2 = EA2 Net Flux :  = E (l 2 − l 2 ) = 0

What is the electric flux if the cube is turned by an angle θ about y-axis?
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
15
Example 22.2 : Flux through a cube (Solution 1)
Φ = 𝐸𝑙2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 𝑛ො 5 θ5 𝐸 x
𝜃1 = 180° → Φ1 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 180° = − 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑛ො 3 ●
θ3 𝐸
θ1 θ2
𝜃2 = 0° → Φ2 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 0° = + 𝐸𝑙 2 𝐸 𝐸
𝜃3 = 90° → Φ3 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90° = 0 𝑛ො1 𝑛ො 2
𝑛ො 4 θ
𝐸
𝜃4 = 90° → Φ4 = 𝐸𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90° = 0 2 × 4
θ6 𝐸
𝜃5 = 90° → Φ5 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90° = 0
z 𝑛ො 6
𝜃6 = 90° → Φ6 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90° = 0
Φ = Φ1 + Φ2 + Φ3 + Φ4 + Φ5 + Φ6
Φ = − 𝐸𝑙 2 + 𝐸𝑙 2 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0
𝜱=𝟎
Does rotating the cube will avoid the
zero flux?
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
Example 22.2 : Flux through a cube (Solution 2)
Φ = 𝐸𝑙2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 𝑛ො 5 θ5
𝐸 𝐸
𝜃1 = 180° − 𝜃 → Φ1 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 180° − 𝜃 𝑛ො 3 x
Φ1 = −𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 θ3 θ2
𝑛ො 2 𝐸
𝜃2 = 𝜃 → Φ2 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 𝐸
𝑛ො1 𝐸
𝜃3 = 90° → Φ3 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90° = 0 𝑛ො 4 θ4
θ1
𝜃4 = 90° → Φ4 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90° = 0 θ6 𝐸
θ
𝜃5 = 90° + 𝜃 → Φ5 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90° + 𝜃 𝑛ො 6
Φ5 = −𝐸𝑙 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
z
𝜃6 = 90° − 𝜃 → Φ6 = 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90° − 𝜃 = +𝐸𝑙 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
Φ = Φ1 + Φ2 + Φ3 + Φ4 + Φ5 + Φ6
Φ = − 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 + 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 + 0 + 0 − 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 + 𝐸𝑙 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
𝜱=𝟎
Why flux through cube is always zero?
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
8
Gauss’s Law
• Gauss’s law is an alternative to Coulomb’s law and is
completely equivalent to it.
• Carl Friedrich Gauss, shown below, formulated this law.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

18
9
22.3 Gauss’s Law
A fundamental Law: relating the net electric flux through a closed
surface and the charge enclosed by the surface .
Consider a positive charge q located at the center of a sphere of radius r
q
⚫ Owing to coulomb law the electric field at the surface is: E = ke 2
r

 c =  E dA
q
A = 4πr & E = ke 2
2

r
q
 c = E  dA = EA q
 c = 4πr (ke 2 ) = 4ke q c =

2

r 0
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
19
0
𝒒
Physical meaning of the equation: 𝜱𝒄 = Τ𝜺𝟎

1) Net electric flux through a closed spherical surface

is proportional to the charge “q” inside it.
1.
2) Net electric flux through a closed spherical surface
is independent on its radius “r”.

3) The result is a consequence of Coulomb Law as

⚫ (E) : proportional to ( 1/r2 )
⚫ (A) : proportional to ( r2 )
 c = EA : Independent on r
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
20
1
Effect of surface shape

1.
N = N1 = N2= N3

N1 = N 2 = N 3 : regardless the shape of S1, S2 and S3

The net flux throu gh each surface is the same

𝛷1 = 𝛷2 = 𝛷3
q
c = : Regardless the shape of the surface
 0

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

21
2
Effect of charge location

The point charge is located outside the surface

N1 = N 2
 in =  out
 c =  out −  in

 c = Zero
The net electric flux through a closed surface that
surrounds no charge is zero.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
22
3
More than one point charge or a continuous charge distribution

q1
 cs =
0
1.

q1 + q2 + q3
 cs  =
0 q1

Zero
 cs = = Zero
0
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
23
4
Gauss’s Law

⚫ The net electric flux through any closed

surface is equal to the net charge inside it 1.
divided by 0:

⚫ Gauss’s Law can be always used to calculate

the electric field of a system of:
(i) Discrete charges
(ii) Continuous charge distribution having symmetry.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

24
5
Open and Closed Surfaces

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

25
6
Conceptual Example
If the net flux through a Gaussian surface is zero, which of the
following statements are true?
a) There are no charges inside the surface.
b) The net charge inside the surface is zero
c) The electric field is zero every where on the surface
d) The number of electric field lines entering the surface equals the
number leaving it .
Solution:
(a ) is not necessarily correct
Electric dipole :there are two charges inside the surface
- +
q in = (+ q − q ) = 0
c = 0

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

26
 Solution Conceptual Example (Cont.)
7

b) The net charge inside the surface is zero.

qin
(b) is true : c =
0
qin
0=  qin = 0
0
c) The electric field is zero every where on the surface.
E1  0 E2  0
(c)is not not necessarily true
if r is finite  E1  0 E 2  0
eventhough
 c =  out −  in = Zero
(d ) is true
d) The number of electric field lines entering the
 c = zero 
surface equals the number leaving it .
 out −  in = 0
 out =  in 
N 2 = N1
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
27
8
Conceptual Example 22.3
A spherical Gaussian surface surrounds a point charge q Describe
what happens to the flux through the surface if :
a) The charge is tripled.
b) The volume of the sphere is doubled.
c) The surface is changed to a cube.
d) The charge is moved to another location inside the surface.
Solution: qin q
c = =
a) The charge is tripled. 0 0
( a ) if q' = 3q
3q q
 'c = = 3 = 3 c
0 0
The flux is also trippled
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
28
9
Solution Example 22.3 (Cont.)
b) The volume of the sphere is doubled.
(b) V' = 2V
qin
c = independen t of r
0
 c remains constsnt

c) The surface is changed to a cube.

q in
(c)  c = independen t of surfaces shape
0
d) The charge is moved to another
location in side the surface.
qin
(d)  c = independen t of charge' s location
0
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
29
 Class Activities

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

30
Q1
A spherical Gaussian surface (#1)
encloses and is centered on a point charge
+q. A second spherical Gaussian surface
(#2) of the same size also encloses the
charge but is not centered on it. +q
Compared to the electric flux
through surface #1, the
flux through surface #2 is
A. greater. Gaussian Gaussia
surface n surface
B. the same.
#1 #2
C. less, but not zero.
D. zero.
E. not enough information given to decide
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
31
Q2
Two point charges, +q (in
red) and –q (in blue), are
arranged as shown.
Through which closed
surface(s) is the net
electric flux equal to zero?

A. surface A
B. surface B
C. surface C
D. surface D
E. both surface C and surface D
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
32
3
Q3

Figure shows six point charges

that all lie in the same plane. Five
Gaussian surfaces S1, S2, S3, S4,
and S5 - each enclose part of this
plane, and figure shows the
intersection of each surface with
the plane.
Rank these five surfaces in order
of the electric flux through them,
from most positive to most
negative.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

33
 Summary
• The flux of uniform electric field through plane surface:

𝜱 = 𝐸. 𝐴Ԧ = 𝐸𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙

• The flux of electric field through any surface

𝜱= න 𝐸. 𝑑𝐴Ԧ
𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
• Gauss’s law:

𝑞𝑖𝑛
𝜱𝑐 = ර 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀0
𝐶𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.