SHS

GAUSS’S LAW

General Physics 2
Quarter 3: Week 2
Module 2 : Gauss’s Law
General Physics 2
Grade 12 Quarter 3: Week 2- Module 2: Gauss’s Law
First Edition, 2021

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Ymor A. Balala

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Management Team:

Atty. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent

Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, Ph.D

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

German E. Flora, Ph.D, CID Chief

Virgilio C. Boado, Ph.D, EPS in Charge of LRMS

Rominel S. Sobremonte, Ed.D, EPS in Charge of Science

Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II

Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II
 Target

What this module is about?

In this module you will learn the nature/concept of Gauss’s Law, electric
charges, dipoles, forces, fields and flux and electric potential.
What you are expected to learn

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Use Gauss’s law to infer electric field due to uniformly distributed
charges on long wires, spheres, and large plates (STEM_GP12EMIIIb-13)
2. Solve problems involving electric charges, dipoles, forces, fields, and flux
in contexts such as, but not limited to, systems of point charges,
electrical breakdown of air, charged pendulums, electrostatic ink-jet
printers (STEM_GP12EMIIIb-14)
3. Relate the electric potential with work, potential energy, and electric field
(STEM_GP12EMIIIb-15)
4. Determine the electric potential function at any point due to highly
symmetric continuous- charge distributions (STEM_GP12EMIIIc-17)
Sub-Task:
1. Define the following terms:
a. electric field;
b. electric field of line;
c. electric flux;
d. electric dipole
e. electric potential; and
f. electric potential energy
2. State the Gauss’s Law and identify the working formula for sphere,
cylinder, and square plate.
3. Distinguish the appropriate equation in solving problem involving
Gauss’s Law, electric charges, dipoles, forces, fields, flux, electric
potential, and potential difference.
4. Calculate problems involving Gauss’s Law, electric charges, dipoles,
forces, fields, flux, electric potential, and potential difference.
 Jumpstart

For you to understand the lesson well, do the following activities.

Have fun and good luck!

Activity 1: What do you know on Gauss’s Law?

Direction: Answer the following questions correctly.

1. A positive charge is placed at the center of a cube of side A. Is electric flux

present through the cube?

2. A positive charge is placed outside the cube. Is electric flux present through
the cube?
Activity 2: Draw me!

Direction: Sketch the direction of electric field of line for each charge or system of
charges.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Activity 3: Basics on Electric Potential

1. What is another term for “Potential Difference”? ______________________

2. Complete the following statement:

When work is done on a positive test charge by an external force to move it
from one location to another, potential energy _________ (increases, decreases) and
electric potential _________ (increases, decreases).

Discover

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 the greatest mathematicians of all time.
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 the greatest mathematicians of all time.
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 surface. Gauss’s law states that the total electric flux through any closed
surface (a surface enclosing a definite volume) is proportional to the total (net) electric
charge inside the surface. This proportionality is expressed in the Gauss's law
equation:
ϕ = Q/ε₀

where:

• ϕ is the electric flux through the closed surface;

• Q is the total electric charge inside the surface; and

• ε0 is an electric constant, also called vacuum permittivity or permittivity of free
space. It is equal to 8.854·10-12 F/m.

Gauss’ 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 line

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’ Law square

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.

Electric Field

Electric field is a region where a charged a particle exerts a force. Electric

field is defined as the electric force per unit charge. The direction of the field is taken
to be the direction of the force it would exert on a positive test charge. The electric
field is radially outward from a positive charge and radially in toward a negative
point charge.

where:

• E is the electric field;

• Fo is the total electric charge inside the surface; and

• qo is the electric charge

Electric Field Lines

Electric field lines or lines of force provide a map of the electric field in the
space surrounding electric charges. They are always directed away from positive
charges and toward negative charges. In addition, electric field lines always begin
on a positive charge and end on a negative charge and do not stop in midspace.
Below are the illustrations of electric field of lines:
 Electric Dipole and Electric Flux
An electric dipole is a pair of point charges with equal magnitude and opposite
sign (a positive charge +q and a negative charge -q) separated by a distance d.
Electric flux is the measure of the electric field through a given area. Electric
flux is proportional to the number of electric field lines going through a normally
perpendicular surface.

The symbol that we use for electric flux is ΦE, the capital Greek letter phi; the
subscript E is a reminder that this is electric flux. A flat surface in a uniform electric
field. The electric flux ΦE through the surface equals the scalar product of the electric
field E and the area vector A.

Electric Potential Energy: Potential Difference

Electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a unit charge from a
reference point to a specific point against an electric field. Typically, the reference
point is Earth, although any point beyond the influence of the electric field charge
can be used.

The electric force F exerted by the field on the positive charge is F = qE; to move
the charge from plate A to plate B, an equal and opposite force (F′ = −qE) must then
be applied. The work W done in moving the positive charge through a
distance d is W = F′d = −qE
The potential energy for a positive charge increases when it moves against an
electric field and decreases when it moves with the electric field; the opposite is true
for a negative charge.
The electrostatic or Coulomb force is conservative, which means that the work
done on q is independent of the path taken. We use the letters PE to denote electric
potential energy, which has units of joules (J). The change in potential energy,
ΔPE, is crucial, since the work done by a conservative force is the negative of the
change in potential energy; that is, W = –ΔPE.
Gravitational potential energy and electric potential energy are quite analogous.
Potential energy accounts for work done by a conservative force and gives added
insight regarding energy and energy transformation without the necessity of dealing
with the force directly.
Calculating the work directly is generally difficult, since W = Fd cos θ and the
direction and magnitude of F can be complex for multiple charges, for odd-shaped
objects, and along arbitrary paths. But we do know that, since F = qE, the work, and
hence ΔPE, is proportional to the test charge q. To have a physical quantity that is
independent of test charge, we define electric potential V (or simply potential, since
electric is understood) to be the potential energy per unit charge V=PEqV=PEq
 Since PE is proportional to q , the dependence on q cancels. Thus V does not depend
on q. The change in potential energy ΔPE is crucial, and so we are concerned with
the difference in potential or potential difference ΔV between two points, where :
ΔV=VB−VA=ΔPEqΔV=VB−VA=ΔPEq
The potential difference between points A and B, VB − VA, is thus defined to be
the change in potential energy of a charge q moved from A to B, divided by the
charge. Units of potential difference are joules per coulomb, given the name volt (V)
after Alessandro Volta.
1V=1J/C
The familiar term voltage is the common name for potential difference. Keep
in mind that whenever a voltage is quoted, it is understood to be the potential
difference between two points.
In summary, the relationship between potential difference (or voltage) and
electrical potential energy is given by
ΔV=ΔPEqΔV=ΔPEq and ΔPE = qΔ

Explore

Here is some independent practice for you to work on to master and

strengthen the basic concepts you have learned from this lesson.

Self-Practice 1:

1. Several electric field line patterns are shown in the diagrams below. Which of
these patterns are incorrect? _________ Explain what is wrong with all incorrect
diagrams.

2.Erin Agin drew the following electric field lines for a configuration of two
charges. What did Erin do wrong? Explain.
Self- Practice 2: Solve Me!

1. A cylindrical metal has a height of 0.27 m and a radius of 0.11 m. The electric
field is directed outward along the entire surface of the can (including the top
and bottom), with uniform magnitude of 4.0 x 10 5N/C. How much charge does
the can contain?

2. A square metal plate with a length of 0.20 m and with a charge of 9.7 x 10 -7 C.
Find the electric field of the square metal plate.

Deepen
SHOW ME WHAT YOU’VE GOT?
Problem Set –

Direction: Solve the following problem completely.

1. An electrostatic force of 20N is exerted on a charge of 8.0 x 10 3 C at point P in
an electric field. What is the magnitude of the electric filed intensity at point P?

2. A uniform electric field E = 5000 N/C passing through a flat square area A = 2
m2. Determine the electric flux.
Note: The angle between the electric field direction and a line drawn
perpendicular to the area is 60 0.

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.

4.Suppose you have a 12.0 V motorcycle battery that can move 5000 C of charge,
and a 12.0 V car battery that can move 60,000 C of charge. How much energy
does each deliver? (Assume that the numerical value of each charge is accurate to
three significant figures.
 Gauge

Directions: Read carefully each item. Use a separate sheet for your answers.
Write only the letter of the best answer for each test item.

1. Gauss law is applicable for_________

A. Point charge
B. Sheet charge
C. Line charge
D. Point, sheet and line charge

2. “Total electric flux through any closed surface is equal to the charge enclosed by
that surface divided by permittivity”. This is the statement for?
A. Gauss law
B. Lenz law
C. Coloumb’s law
D. Faraday’s law

3. Electric flux density is a function of_______

A. Volume
B. Charge
C. Current
D. Voltage

4. As charge increases, what happens to flux density?

A. Increases
B. Decreases
C. Remains constant
D. Becomes zero

5. As area increases, what happens to electric flux density?

A. Increases
B.Decreases
C Remains constant
D. Becomes zero

6. Strength of the electric field is ___________

A. Directly proportional to the force applied
B. Inversely proportional to the force applied
C. Directly proportional to the square of the force applied
D. Inversely proportional to the square of the force applied

7. The force applied to a conductor is 10N if the charge in the conductor is 5C, what
is the electric field intensity?
A. 10V/m
B. 2V/m
C. 3V/m
D. 15V/m
8. What is the electric flux density in free space if the electric field intensity is
 1V/m?
A. 7.76 X 10-12C/m2
B. 8.85 X 10-12C /m2
C. 1.23 X 10-12C /m2
D. 3.43 X 10-12C /m2

9. The diagram below shows some of the lines of electrical force around a positive
point charge. Point A is nearest to the charge, point B is farther away, and point C
is the farthest.

A. greatest at point A
B. greatest at point B
C. greatest at point C
D. equal at points A,B, and C

10. A solid conducting sphere is given a positive charge Q. How is the charge Q
distributed in or on the sphere?
A. It is concentrated at the center of the sphere.
B. It is uniformly distributed throughout the sphere.
C. Its density decreases radially outward from the center.
D. It is uniformly distributed on the surface of the sphere only.

PROBLEM SOLVING
11-15 A hollow conducting sphere of radius 0.12 meters has a uniform charge
distributed on its surface. The electric field at a distance of 0.20 meters has a value of -
10 N/C. (A)How much charge is distributed on the sphere?

SCORING RUBRICS FOR PROBLEM SOLVING

JUMPSTART:
Activity 1: What do you know on Gauss’s Law?
1. YES 2. NO
Activity 2: Draw me!
Direction: Sketch the direction of electric field of line for each charge or system
of charges.
Activity 3: Basics on Electric Potential
1. Voltage
2. When work is done on a positive test charge by an external force to move it
from one location to another, potential energy increases (increases, decreases)
and electric potential increases (increases, decreases).
Answer Key
EXPLORE:
Self-Practice 1:
1. C, D, and E
In C, the lines are directed towards a positively charged object.
In D, the line is not symmetrically positioned despite the fact that the
object is a symmetrical sphere.
In E, the lines are directed away from a negative charge.
2. Electric field lines never intersect each other. Erin crosses his lines.
Self- Practice 2: Solve Me!
1. Q = 9. 3 x 10 -7 C
2. E = -8.80 X 10 3 N/C
References
Printed Materials:

Padua, Alicia L., Crisostomo, Ricardo M. (2005). Practical and Explorational

Physics Modular Approach.Araneta Ave. Quezon City, Philippines: Vibal
Publishing House, Inc
Deauna, Melecio C., Eusebio,Rosemarie D.,Eusibio,Edvino G.,Catris, Leticia V.
(2001). The World of Physics.Quezon Avenue,1104 Quezon City, Philippines:
SIBS Publishing House, Inc.
E-Book
Young, Hugh D., Freedman Roger A., (2012) University Physics with Modern
Physics 13th Edition. 1301 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA, 94111:
Addison-Wesley Publishing

Website:

Electric Potential, (n.d) Retrieved January 5,2020 from

https://www.britannica.com/science/electric-potential

Gauss's Law Calculator, (n.d) Retrieved January 6,2020 from

https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/gauss-law#electric-flux

Gauss' Law: Definition & Examples, (n.d) Retrieved December 20 , 2020 from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/gausss-law-definition-examples.html

Regents Physics Electric Fields, (n.d) Retrieved December 20 , 2020 from

https://www.eastauroraschools.org/cms/lib/NY19000901/Centricity/Doma
in/305/Electric%20Fields.pdf

Electric Flux (n.d) Retrieved December 28 , 2020 from

https://physics.gurumuda.net/electric-flux-problems-and-solutions.htm

Electric Field Strength and Electric Flux Density, (n.d) Retrieved December 29 ,
2020 from https://www.sanfoundry.com/basic-electrical-engineering- -
electric-field-strength-electric-flux-density/

Electric Circuits - Lesson 1 - Electric Potential Difference, ( n.d)

Retrieved,January 7 , 2020
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/Lesson-
1/Electric-Potential