Question:

ˆ 1
Consider a uniform electric field E = 3 10 iNC . What is the net flux of the uniform electric field
3

through a cube of side 20 cm oriented so that its faces are parallel to the coordinate planes?

Solution:

Hint: The region around a charged particle where other charged particles experience a force is
known as the electric field. We can find the magnitude of electric field intensity from the electric
field intensity vector(E) and then by substituting the value in the formula, the net flux will be
obtained.

Formula Used:
2
 Area of the square (A) = (Side)

()  E  A  cos 
 Flux

Step By Step Solution:

3ˆ 1
Electric field intensity (E) = 3  10 iNC

 E  3  103ˆi  (3  103 ) 2  3 103 N/C
Magnitude of electric field intensity

Side of the cube (s) = 20cm = 0.2m [ 1m = 100cm ]

The electric field lines are passing in the x-direction, so the lines will pass through one of the sides of
the cube and leaves through the opposite side of the cube. To obtain net flux we should calculate
the flux through these sides of the cube which are squares.

We can calculate the area of the square by using the formula

2
Area of the square (A) = (Side)

 A  (0.2) 2  0.04m 2

Net flux can be calculated by using the formula


()  E  A  cos 
Flux

As the sides of the cube are parallel to the coordinate axis, the angle between the electric field lines
and normal to the surface will be 0

Now, by substituting the values of electric field intensity, area of the square and  in the above
formula, we get

   3 103  0.04  cos(0)

   0.12 103 1
On further calculation, we get
   120Nm 2 /C
2
 The net flux through the cube is 120Nm /C

Note: While doing the calculation, all the quantities should be in the same unit. The given value of
the side of the cube is in centimetres, so convert it into meters before calculating the area of the
square.

Latex

Question:

Consider a uniform electric field ${\text{E = 3}} \times {\text{1}}{{\text{0}}^3}{\text{\hat iN}}

{{\text{C}}^{ - 1}}$ . What is the net flux of the uniform electric field through a cube of side 20 cm
oriented so that its faces are parallel to the coordinate planes?

Solution:

Hint: The region around a charged particle where other charged particles experience a force is
known as the electric field. We can find the magnitude of electric field intensity from the electric
field intensity vector(E) and then by substituting the value in the formula, the net flux will be
obtained.

Formula Used:

 Area of the square (A) = ${({\text{Side}})^2}$

 Flux $(\Phi ) = \left| {\overrightarrow {\text{E}} } \right| \times {\text{A}} \times \cos \theta
$

Step By Step Solution:

Electric field intensity (E) = ${\text{3}} \times {\text{1}}{{\text{0}}^3}{\text{\hat iN}}{{\text{C}}^{ - 1}}$

Magnitude of electric field intensity \[ = \left| {\overrightarrow {\text{E}} } \right| = \left|

{{\text{3}} \times {\text{1}}{{\text{0}}^3}{\text{\hat i}}} \right| = \sqrt {{{({\text{3}} \times {\text{1}}
{{\text{0}}^3})}^2}} = {\text{3}} \times {\text{1}}{{\text{0}}^3}{\text{ N/C}}\]

Side of the cube (s) = $20{\text{cm = 0}}{\text{.2m}}$ [$1{\text{m = 100cm}}$]

The electric field lines are passing in the x-direction, so the lines will pass through one of the sides of
the cube and leaves through the opposite side of the cube. To obtain net flux we should calculate
the flux through these sides of the cube which are squares.

We can calculate the area of the square by using the formula

Area of the square (A) = ${({\text{Side}})^2}$

$ \Rightarrow {\text{A}} = {\text{ (0}}{\text{.2}}{{\text{)}}^2} = {\text{ 0}}{\text{.04}}{{\text{m}}^2}$

Net flux can be calculated by using the formula

Flux $(\Phi ) = \left| {\overrightarrow {\text{E}} } \right| \times {\text{A}} \times \cos \theta $

As the sides of the cube are parallel to the coordinate axis, the angle between the electric field lines
and normal to the surface will be $0^\circ $
Now, by substituting the values of electric field intensity, area of the square and $\theta $ in the
above formula, we get

$ \Rightarrow \Phi = 3 \times {10^3} \times 0.04 \times {\text{cos(0)}}^\circ $

$ \Rightarrow \Phi = 0.12 \times {10^3} \times 1$

On further calculation, we get

$ \Rightarrow \Phi = 120{\text{N}}{{\text{m}}^2}{\text{/C}}$

$\therefore $The net flux through the cube is $120{\text{N}}{{\text{m}}^2}{\text{/C}}$

Note: While doing the calculation, all the quantities should be in the same unit. The given value of
the side of the cube is in centimetres, so convert it into meters before calculating the area of the
square.