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P132 ch24 PDF
P132 ch24 PDF
Gauss Law relates the net amount of electric charge enclosed by a surface to the electric field on
that surface.
For certain situations Gauss Law provides an easier way to calculate the electric field than the
integration methods discussed in chapter 23. These cases most always involve a situation with a
high degree of symmetry, e.g. a sphere or cylinder.
This is the algebraic sum of all enclosed charges and can be +, -, or zero.
is the electric flux through the surface that encloses our charge(s).
A few words about the surface:
1) it is not a real surface, i.e. something we can touch.
2) We try to choose the appropriate surface to simplify the problem.
3) The surface must fully surround the charge(s), i.e. it must be CLOSED.
Example: a rectangular box with 6 sides gives a closed surface. If we take the top of the box off it is no longer a closed surface.
= E dA
The symbol means that the integration is taken over the entire closed surface.
Flux is a scalar even though E and dA are vectors. Flux has units Nm2/C
R. Kass
So, how do we calculate the electric flux? This integral looks worse than chapter 23s!
Lets calculate the electric flux through the box in the figure.
Since the box is closed the Gaussian surface is the 6 box sides. We really have 6 integrals to worry about!!
= E dA = E dA + E dA + E dA + E dA + E dA + E d A
1
Ex: for surface #1 dA points in the +z direction. For #6 dA points in the z direction.
1
3
5 1
For this example the electric field is uniform along the +z-axis.
The direction of dA is always normal to a surface and points outward.
E dA = EdA cos(0) = EA
E dA = EdA cos(270) = 0
6
2
4
R. Kass
Consider the situation where we have a single positive charge (q) in space.
Lets use Gauss Law to calculate its electric field (E).
In order to actually do this problem we need to assume the following:
1) the electric field of a positive point charge points radially outward.
2) the electric field of a point charge varies only with the distance (r) from the charge.
What should we use for the Gaussian surface?? Lets start with a sphere!
We draw an imaginary sphere with the charge at the center like the figure on the right.
Suppose we look at an infinitesimal area (dA) of the sphere.
The normal to this surface will always point radially away from the center of the sphere.
bit of algebra
E=
q
4 0 r
Coulombs Law!
Previously, when we discussed the properties of conductors we noted the following properties:
1) The electric field inside of a conductor is zero.
2) Any excess charge on an isolated conductor resides entirely on its outside surface.
Using Gauss law and 1) we can prove 2)!
Assume we have a conductor with excess charge.
E dA = q
enc
/0
Since our Gaussian surface is inside the conductor by 1) the electric field, E, is zero
everywhere on the Gaussian surface.
E dA = 0 q
enc
=0
Therefore any charge inside the Gaussian surface must be zero too.
Since we can move the Gaussian surface arbitrarily close to the conductors surface
the charge must lie entirely on the outer surface of the conductor! Try proving this without using
Gauss law!!
R. Kass
metal
-- -
- - -
--+q
rinner ----- - router
E dA = 0 q
enc
=0
Since qenc=0 there must be an induced charge = -q on the inner wall to cancel +q!
The induced charge will not be uniformly distributed if +q is not at the center.
R. Kass
metal
- - --
+
+
+
router
r
+
enc
/0 = q /0
--+q
rinner ----- - -
E dA = q
+
+
E dA = EA = E (4r
E (4r 2 ) = q / 0 E =
)
q
remember:
r router
4 0 r 2
R. Kass
rinner
router
distributed in this region
d
A
EA
=
E
(
4
r
)
E (4r 2 ) = q / 0 E =
4 0 r 2
And so the force that a point particle with charge Q would feel at router is:
F = QE =
Qq
4 0 r 2
To prove 2) we put a Gaussian surface in the hollow region r < rinner. Since there is no charge
in this region there is no electric field here either! So, if we put a charge Q in this region it
will feel zero force.
note: Q will generate an electric field, but Q does not feel its own electric field so there still will be no force on Q.
R. Kass
E dA =
r
a
q enc
q enc
q
qr 3
=
q enc = 3
4 3 4 3
a
r
a
3
3
qr 3
E (4r ) =
0a3
2
R. Kass
E=
qr
4 0 a 3
E dA =
q enc
E (4r 2 ) =
E=
ra
To recap:
r>a
R. Kass
E=
q
4 0 r 2
qr
4 0 a
q
E=
4 0 r 2
3
10
dq=dV
Lets assume that is only a function distance from the center of the sphere: =(r).
Therefore the amount of charge enclosed by a spherical shell with inner radius, rinner &
router
outer radius, router is:
qenc =
(r )dV
rinner
0 E dA = qenc =
router
(r )dV
rinner
If is only a function of r, the electric field is always radial and E and dA are parallel.
For a spherical Gaussian surface with radius, r we have:
0 E dA = 0 E dA = 0 E 4r 2
Lets do prob. 41 of ch. 24. Here we have a non-conducting sphere of radius R with =sr/R.
Calculate the electric field inside the sphere at radius r. The total charge on the sphere is Q.
We put the Gaussian surface at r. The inner radius is r=0 since we have a solid sphere.
router
q enc
R. Kass
4 s r 3
s r 4
r
2
= (r )dV = s (4r dr ) =
r dr =
R
R
R
rinner
0
0
r
11
q enc
r
4
s r 4
r
2
3
s
= ( r ) dV = s ( 4r dr ) =
r dr =
R
R
R 0
rinner
0
r
0 E dA = 0 E dA = 0 E 4r 2
s r 4
R
r2
s
Solving for the electric field we get: E =
0 4R
We can write E in terms of the total charge in the sphere Q using:
4 s 3
Q
r
3
r
dr
=
R
Q = ( r )dV = s (4r 2 dr ) =
s
s
R
R
R 3
0
0
0
R
Qr 2
E=
4 0 R 4
How does this differ from the problem with uniform volume charge density?
What is the electric field for r>R? (ans: same as that of a point charge)
R. Kass
12