Gauss Law

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II
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ACTIVITY: DRAW ME
Direction: Sketch the direction
of electric field of
line for each charge
or system of charges.
Gauss’s Law
Gauss’s law is an alternative to
Coulomb’s law. While completely
equivalent to Coulomb’s law, Gauss’s law
provides a different way to express the
relationship between electric charge and
electric field. It was formulated by Carl
Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), one of
Gauss’s Law
Gauss's law stipulates that when we
consider a completely closed surface around
an electric charge, the total electric flux
through that surface is only proportional
to the strength of that charge; it is
independent of the shape and size of the
surface and the exact position and
distribution of the electric charge inside that
Gauss’s Law
Gauss’s Law
• Statement
• The electric flux through any close surface is 1/ϵ0 times
the total charge enclosed in it.
• Mathematical form
• 𝜑e=(1/ϵ0)(Q)
Gauss’s Law
• Explanation
• Consider an irregular closed surface having n points charges q1,q2,q3,…qn as
shown in figure. The total electric flux passing through the closed surface is
Gauss’s Law
Sphere
For a spherical charge the gaussian surface is another
sphere. I have drawn in the electric field lines. If the sphere
has a charge of Q and the gaussian surface is a distance R
from the center of the sphere:
Gauss’s Law
Sphere
For a line of charge the gaussian surface is a
cylinder. To find the area of the surface we only
count the cylinder itself. The two circles on either
end cannot be part of a gaussian surface because
they do not have a constant electric field, and the
electric field is not perpendicular to the circles.
Gauss’s Law
Sphere
The square has a side length of L, a width of d,
and a charge Q. We want to find the electric field
at a point p which is facing the square. We have to
account for the area of the square that P is on and
the other square opposite of P.
Gaussian Surface
• Definition
• An imaginary closed surface of arbitrary shape which passes through the
point where we find to calculate the Electric intensity.
• Steps to Calculate Electric intensity
1. Consider a Gaussian surface
2. Charged enclosed by Gaussian surface
3. Calculate the flux through that area
4. Apply Gauss’s law to calculate Electric Intensity
Intensity of field inside a
Hollow Charged Sphere
• Step 1
• Gaussian Surface
• Step 2
• Charged enclosed
• q=0
• Step 3
• Calculation of flux
• 𝝋e = E . A
• Step 4
• Calculation of electric intensity
𝒒
• 𝝋e= 𝛜
𝟎
• E.A= 𝒒
𝛜𝟎
• E.A=0
• Since area can never be zero so, E=0
Sample Problem
Sample Problem
PRACTICE TEST
ANSWER : D
PRACTICE TEST
ANSWER : B
PRACTICE TEST
If the net charge enclosed by a closed Gaussian surface is zero, does
this mean that the electric field at all points on the surface is also
zero?
A) Yes, because ∮E⃗ ⋅dA⃗ =Qenc/ε0 if Qenc is zero, then E⃗ must be zero.
B) Yes; electric field strength depends on how much net charge is present in
the region.
C) Yes; electric fields can be cancelled out by charges outside the surface.
D) No; it is not necessary that the electric field should be zero but flux
should be zero.
ANSWER : D
ACTIVITY:
Direction: Solve the following problem completely.
1. An electrostatic force of 20N is exerted on a
charge of 8.0 x 103 C at point P in an electric
field. What is the magnitude of the electric filed
intensity at point P? (E=F/q)
2. A uniform electric field E = 5000 N/C passing

through a flat square area A = 2m2. Determine the
electric flux.
Note: The angle between the electric field direction
ACTIVITY:
Direction: Solve the following problem completely.
3. A Gaussian surface is a closed surface in three-
dimensional space through which the electric flux is
calculated. Given a spherical Gaussian surface that has
a radius of 0.5 meters and encloses 30 electrons.
A. Find the value of the electric flux through this surface
B. From the calculated value of the electric flux,
determine the value of the electric field at a distance
equal to 0.6 meters from the center of the surface.

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2. A uniform electric field E = 5000 N/C passing

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