LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

QUARTER: 3rd / SEMESTER: 2nd /WEEK: 2

Name: ________________________________________________ Score: _______

Grade & Section: __________________________ Subject: GENERALPHYSICS 2

Name of Teacher: _________________________________ Date: _____________

I. Title: Gauss’s Law, Electric Potential, and Electric Potential Difference

II. Type of Activity: Concept notes with formative activities

LAS for summative assessment ( Written Work Performance Task)

III. MELCs: Use Gauss’s law to infer electric field due to uniformly distributed charges
on long wires, spheres, and large plates (STEM_GP12EM- IIIb-13). Solve problems
involving electric charges, dipoles, forces, fields, and flux in contexts such as, but no
limited to, systems of point charges, electrical breakdown of air, charged pendulums,
electrostatic ink-jet printers (STEM_GP12EM- IIIb-14). Relate the electric potential
with work, potential energy, and electric field (STEM_GP12EM- IIIb-15). Determine
the electric potential function at any point due to highly symmetric continuous- charge
distributions (STEM_GP12EM- IIIc-17).

IV. Learning Objective/s:

 Use Gauss’s Law to calculate the electric field due to uniformly distributed
charges.
 Define electric potential energy, electric potential, and capacitance.
 Compute electric potential created by point charges and continuous charge
of distribution.
 Relate equipotential surfaces to electric field.
V. Reference/s:

Print Material/s
Cacanindin, D. D. (2016). General Physics 2, pp. 23-29.
Silverio, A. (2007). Exploring Life Through Science – General Physics 2,
pp. 33-53.
Online Resource/s:
Carr C. (2019). Exam#2 (chapter 7-12). From
https://slideplayer.com/slide/15032056/.
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 Physics Classroom. (2021). Electric Potential Difference. From
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/Lesson-
1/Electric-Potential.

The Organic Chemistry Tutor. (2017). Electric Flux, Gauss's Law &
Electric Fields, Through a Cube, Sphere, & Disk, Physics
Problems. From
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1eor6oIuUo

VI. Concept Notes

A. GAUSS’S LAW
Carl Fiedrich Gauss, a German scientist, formulated a law, which relates
electric field, electric flux, and electric charge. This is known as Gauss’s law which
states that the total electric flux through a surface is the total electric charge
inside the surface divided by . The constant is called the permittivity of free
space and has an appropriate value of 8.8542 10 / ∙ . In symbols,

or in integral form:
! ∙"

The surface mentioned in Gauss’s law is called the Gaussian surface. Since
a line of force starts from a positive charge to a negative charge, the lines going out of
the surface is considered positive, while the lines going into the surface is negative.

Sample Problem:
Calculate the total electric flux for each of the
closed surfaces a, b, c and d as showed. Note that
#3 , #1 , % &5 , and ' &9 .

Solution:
Surface a encloses all the four given charges. Therefore,
#3 # 1 & 5 & 9
&1.1294 10 ∙ /
8.8542 10 / ∙
Surface b enclosed only. Therefore,
#1
) #1.1294 10 ∙ /
8.8542 10 / ∙
Surface c enclosed and only. Therefore,
#3 #1
* &4.5176 10 ∙ /
8.8542 10 / ∙
Surface d encloses all the four given charges. Therefore,
#3 #1 &5 &9
- &1.1294 10 ∙ /
8.8542 10 / ∙

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 B. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY IN A UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD

In the previous lessons, we learned that gravitational force and electrostatic

force are both conservative forces. For a conservative force, there is an associated
potential energy .. The associated potential energy for gravitational force is
gravitational potential energy. Thus, an electric potential energy that is analogous to
the gravitational potential energy exists.

Recall that for a conservative force F acting along the x-direction,

∆1
/ & ∆2 or /∆3 &∆.

But /∆3 is equal to work. Thus, when a particle moves from point A to point B,
45→7 &Δ. &9.7 & .5 : .5 & .7
where 45→7 is the work done from A to B, .5 is the potential energy at point A, and
.7 is the potential energy at .7 .

The figure to the right, shows a positive test

charge placed in the uniform electric field that
experiences an electrostatic force in the direction of
the electric field. An external force /, equal in
magnitude to the electrostatic force , will move the
charge a distance " in the uniform field.

Work is done by the electric force on the charge

as it moves from point A to point B.

4 /" " .5 & .7

The external forces work on the charge and

increase the potential energy of the charge. The work done by the by the external
force is d, the force times the distance. This is equal to the increase in potential
energy of the charge, ∆; ". This is analogous to what happens when a mass m
is lifter against the gravitational force.

Note that if the test charge moves in the direction of the electric field, its
potential energy decreases. On the other hand, if it moves against the direction of the
electric field, the potential energy increases.

Using the work-energy theorem, 4 ∆< . Therefore,

.5 & .7 ∆<
.5 & .7 < 7 & < 5
Rearranging terms,

< 5 # .5 < 7 # .7

Thus, conservation of mechanical energy also applies.

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 Sample Problem:
Two plates are oppositely charged so that have a uniform electric field of 1000 N/C
between them as shown below. A particle with a charge of +0.005 C is moved from
the bottom (negative) plate to the top plate. What is the change in potential energy
of the charge?

Solution:
∆. 4 /" " 90.005 : =1000 > 90.03 : ?. @A B

C. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL (C) IN A UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD

The electric potential at a point is a scalar quantity. It could be negative,

positive, or zero, depending on the sign of the charge. At a point near a positive
charge, the potential is positive; near a negative charge, it is negative. The electric
potential at a point due to a charged particle is given by,

. "
D "

Noting that " E (distance from the point charge),

F E F
D
E E
where F is the Coulomb’s constant, is the charge of the particle (including the sign),
and E is the distance of the point from the charge.

Sample Problem:
A point charge of &6.00 10 G is 3.00 m from point A and 5.00 m from point B.
(a) Find the potential at point A and point B. (b) How much work is done by the
electric field in moving a 2.00 nC particle from point A to point B?

Solution:

HI 9G L M∙NO /P O :9 Q. RL P:
(a) D5 &18.0 D
JK %. N
F 99 10 G
∙ / :9&6.00 10 G
:
D5 &10.8 D
E7 5.00

S
(b) 9D5 & D7 :
I
4 9D5 & D7 : 92.00 10 G :T9&18.0D: & 9&10.8D:U 1.44 10 V W

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 D. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE (∆C:
The familiar term voltage is the common name for potential difference.
Whenever a voltage is quoted, it is understood to be a potential difference between
two points. For example, every battery has two terminals, and its voltage is the
potential difference between them. In summary, the relationship between potential
difference (or voltage) and electrical potential energy is given by,

45→7 Δ. .7 .5
D57 &= & > &9D7 & D5 : D5 & D7

where D5 and D7 are electric potentials at points A and B, respectively. Note that the
work done is not dependent on the path in getting from point A to point B.
Potential difference is a scalar quantity. Its SI unit is the volt named after
Alessandro Volta who devised one of the first electric cells. Note that 1 V is equal to 1
Joulel/Coulomb (J/C).

Example:
What is the change in electric potential from the bottom to the top plate?

Solution:
∆. 0.15 W
∆D X? C
0.005

E. EQUIPOTENTIAL DIFFERENCE AND FIELD LINES

An equipotential surface is a three-dimensional surface on which the potential
energy is the same at every point on that space. Since the potential does not change
as the charge is moved over an equipotential surface, the electric field cannot do work
on such charge. Recalling the definition of work as a dot product of force and
displacement, the work is zero if the force and displacement are perpendicular to each
other. Thus, the electric field lines and equipotential surface are always perpendicular
to each other.

http://www.pstcc.edu/departments/natural_b
ehavioral_sciences/Web%20Physics/E2
http://www.pstcc.edu/departments/natural_behavioral_sciences/Web%20 020D0103.gif
Physics/E2020D0102.gif

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Sample Problem:
A conducting sphere of radius of 3.25 cm has a total charge of 4.50 10 G
distributed uniformly on its surface area. Find the potential at (a) its surface, (b) any
point inside the sphere, and (c) a distance of 5.0 cm from the center of the sphere.

Solution:
(a) At the surface,
4.50 10 G
D F Z9 10 G
∙ [\ ] @^_` C a @^A? C
Y 3.25 10

(b) At any point inside the sphere, the electric field is zero because it is a
conductor. This means that no work is done on a test charge as it moves from
any point to another point inside the sphere. Every point inside the sphere up
to the surface is at equal potential (1250 V).
HI NO '.e RL P
(c) D b9 10G ∙ c de. f g@? C
J PO RO N

YOU CAN DO THIS!

Task 1. Concept Map! Organize the ideas you learned from the concept notes by
accomplishing the concept map. Select the terms from the word pool.

WORD POOL
Electric Potential Force Non-Conservative Force Work
Charge Conservative Force Electric Potentials
Positions Distribution of Charges Amount of Charges

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Task 2. What’s My Unit? Match the variables in Column A with their corresponding
units in Column B. Write all that apply.

Column A Column B
(Variables) (Units)
1. Charge A. C2/N·m2
2. Electric Flux B. N·m2/C
3. Permittivity of Free Space C. C
4. Electric Potential D. V
5. Electric Potential Difference E. N/C
F. V/m
G. Vm
H. J/C

Task 3. What’s My Potential? Use the diagram to identify what is asked in each of
the questions below:

B A
resistor
80 V 60 V

1. What is the electric potential at point B?

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. What is the electric potential at point A?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. What is the electric potential difference between B and A?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4. What is the voltage across the resistor?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

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 YOU CAN DO MORE!

Task 4. Physics Drill: Coulomb’s Law. The diagrams in Column A shows an electric
field (represented by arrows), two points – labeled A and B – located within the electric
field and a positive test charge is shown at point A. For each diagram, indicate
whether work must be done upon the charge to move it from point A to point B by
answering Yes or No on Column B. Finally, indicate the point (A or B) with the greatest
electric potential energy and the greatest electric potential on Column C and Column
D, respectively.

Column A Column B Column C Column D

Work done Electric PE Electric
on Charge? is greatest Potential is
Diagram
(Yes or No) at: greatest at:
(A or B) (A or B)
1.

2.

3.

4.

Task 5. Drawing Equipotential Surfaces and Field Lines. In a letter sized bond
paper, draw the equipotential surfaces and equipotential lines for the configurations of
the charges listed below. For a distinction, use different colors to illustrate the two lines
(e.g., red for field lines, pencil for equipotential surfaces).

1. An isolated negative 2. Two like charges. 3. Two unlike

charge. charges

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Task 6. Household Voltage. Complete the table by accessing
the WolframAlpha Widget on Household Voltages through the
URL below or scanning the QR Code to the right. This activity
aims for you to be acquainted with the electrical potential
difference across the two inserts of a household electrical
outlets in different countries. The Philippines has been made
as an example.

URL:
https://www.wolframalpha.com/widgets/gallery/view.jsp?id=dff72a168c5feb11f709
78d4dc9d3132

Country Electrical Grid Electrical Grid Electric Electric

Voltages Frequency Grid Plug Socket Codes
Codes
Philippines 110 V or 220 V 60 Hz A or B 1 or 2

1. Japan

2. South
Korea
3. United
States
4. United
Kingdom
5. Singapore

CHALLENGE YOURSELF!

Task 7. Physics Drill: Gauss’s Law. Solve the problems below.

1. What is the electric flux through a sphere of radius 4m that contains a (a)
≠#50 h and (b) &50 h charge at its center?

2. A #30h charge is placed at the center of a cube. (a) Calculate the electric flux
that passes through the cube? (b) Calculate the electric flux on each face of the
cube.

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Task 8. Physics Drill: Electric Potential. Solve the following problem and show your
complete solution.

Problem: Four charges, 5.00 10 i , &3.00 10 i , % &2.00 10 i ,

and ' 6.00 10 i
, are situated at the corners of a square of side 4.00 m. Find the
potential at the center of the square.

Task 9. Electric Potential Difference Near A Proton. Solve the problem and show
your complete solution.

Problem: In 1913, Neils Bohr postulated that the electron Hindi hydrogen atom can
move around cannot please only in certain circular stable orbits. the permitted orbits
have radii j , 4j , 9j , and so on. The smallest orbit has a radius j 0.0529 k . (a)
what is the potential difference between the next two allowed orbits with radii 4j and
9j ? (b) which orbit is at the higher potential?

LEVEL UP!

Task 10. Poem-Tential. Make a haiku inspired by the concepts of electric potential.

Task 11. Sci-Idol Poster. Make a digital poster on the life and works of Carl Friedrich
Gauss. Your poster shall follow the guidelines below:

1. It must include the photo, name, birthday and death of the featured scientist.
2. It shall highlight the Gauss’s Law as his greatest contribution.
3. The poster must be uploaded in your social media accounts for information
dissemination.

Task 12. Physics and Beyond. Research how lightning occurs. Your response shall
incorporate the concept of potential difference. Answer must only have a maximum of
10 sentences. Illustrations may be included.

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