Flux and Gauss' Law

Ch 22 AP Physics C

Background
Gauss Law is part of the key to using symmetry considerations to simplify EField calculations (remember section 21.5 when we integrated to solve for E of a ring of charge, line of charge etc.) In chapter 21 we asked:
What is the E-field due to a known charge distribution?

In chapter 22 we will ask:

What is the charge distribution if we know E?

The box may enclose a charge, by placing a test charge and observing F, we know E. It is only necessary to do this at the surface of the shape.

Flux
Flux, in this case Electric Flux, is the amount of (electric) field passing through a specified area. Think of water flowing in a pipe (flux comes from the Latin for flow)

Pictures of outward (+) flux and inward (-) flux

Situations where the total flux equals zero

The E-field decreases at 1/r2 while the area increases at r2 and that increase and decrease cancel each other out and that is why the size of the surface enclosing Q does not matter.

Flux
Symbol E Unit Nm2/C Equation:

E = E A = EA cos E = E dA

What we can conclude about

1. is proportional to q 2. Whether is inward or outward depends on the q inside the surface 3. A q outside the surface offers zero because in = out

 = 0 through triangular prism below. See board for the proof

E = 500 N/C
50 cm 30 cm 40 cm 40 cm

Gauss Law
The total electric flux through any closed surface is proportional to the net electric charge inside the surface

Gauss Law
Qenclosed E = E dA = 0 Qenclosed E dA = E cos dA = E dA = 0

Point Charge

Uniformly charge insulator at a varying r

Line of Charge

Sheet of Charge