Lesson 1.

2
Electric Flux and
Gauss’s Law
 Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1) Draw electric field lines, and interpret diagrams
that show electric field lines.
2) Calculate the electric flux through a surface given
the electric field.
3) Apply Gauss’s law in solving problems.
Guide questions:
How are electric field lines related to the electric field?
How different is an electric field of a positive charge
compared to a negative charge?
 Electric Field Lines
It is an imaginary line or curve drawn through a region of
space so that its tangent at any point is in the direction of the
electric-field vector at that point.
Electric field lines help us visualize the electric field and
predict how charged particles would respond to the field.

Charges and Fields 1.0.50 (colorado.edu)

Electric Field Lines

The English scientist

Michael Faraday (1791–1867)
first introduced the concept of
field lines. He called them
“lines of force,” but the term
“field lines” is preferable. Field
lines provide a graphical
representation of electric
fields.
Electric Field Lines
Electric Field Lines

Example: electric field lines for isolated +2e and -e charges.

Electric Field Lines
• The electric field vector E is tangent to the field lines.

• The number of lines per unit area through a surface

perpendicular to the lines is proportional to the electric field
strength in that region.
Electric Field Lines

• No two field lines can cross.

 Electric Field Lines
• The field lines begin on positive charges and end on negative charges.

For example, an isolated positive charge. The

electric field lines due to isolated positive
charge would radiate outward uniformly in all
directions.

For example, an isolated negative charge.

The electric field lines due to isolated
negative charge would radiate inward
uniformly in all directions.
Figure 8. Three typical electric field diagrams
It is important to remember that electric fields
are three-dimensional.
 Electric Flux

- measures how much the electric field

'flows' through an area.
- It can also be stated as the amount of
electric field lines penetrating a given
surface.
E
- The flow is imaginary & calculated as
the product of field strength & area
component perpendicular to the field.
- The word “flux” comes from a Latin
word meaning “flow.”
- The symbol used for electric flux is ΦΕ .
 The electric flux is maximum
if the electric field lines are
perpendicular to the surface.
The electric flux is zero when
the electric field line is parallel to
the surface.
At a given angle, the electric
flux is directly proportional to the
component of the electric field
lines.
The electric flux passing through a surface is
the number of electric field lines that pass
through it.
Consider a flat area A perpendicular to a uniform electric field 𝐸.

A
E

We define electric flux through this area to be the

product of the field magnitude E and the area A:
𝚽𝚬 = 𝐄𝐀
 E

In this case the area that counts is the
silhouette area that we see when looking in the
direction of 𝐸 . The “amount of surface”
perpendicular to the electric field is 𝑨𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝓.
A

E

ΦΕ = 𝐸𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙
In terms of the vector area 𝐴Ԧ perpendicular to the
area, we can write the electric flux as the scalar
Ԧ
product 𝐸 and 𝐴:
𝜱𝜠 = 𝑬 ∙ 𝑨
If the electric field is not uniform, or the
surface is not flat…

we divide the surface into

infinitesimal surface elements
and add the flux through each…

 E = lim
Ai →0
 E  A
i
i i
E
A
dA

 E =  E  dA

Remember, the direction of

dA is normal to the surface.
If the surface is closed (completely encloses a volume)…

…we count* lines going out

as positive and lines going
in as negative…
E
𝚽𝐄 = ර𝐄 ⋅ 𝐝𝐀
dA

For a closed surface, dA is

normal to the surface and always
points away from the inside.
 Φ𝐸 = 𝐸𝐴 Flat surface, E  A, E constant over surface.

Φ𝐸 = 𝐸𝐴 cos 𝜃 Flat surface, E not  A, E constant over surface.

Φ𝐸 = 𝐸 ⋅ 𝐴Ԧ Flat surface, E not  A, E constant over surface.

Φ𝐸 = න𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ Surface not flat, E not uniform.

Φ𝐸 = ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ Closed surface.

If the surface is closed, you may be able to “break it up” into simple segments and
still use E=E·A for each segment.
Problem #2.1
A disk of radius 0.10 m is
oriented with its normal unit vector 𝑛ො
at 30° to a uniform electric field 𝐸 of
magnitude 2.0 × 103 𝑁/𝐶. (a) What is
the electric flux through the disk? (b)
What is the flux through the disk if it
is turned so that 𝑛ො is perpendicular
to 𝐸? (c) What is the flux through the
disk if 𝑛ො is parallel to 𝐸?
Given: The area is,
𝑟 = 0.10𝑚 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
𝜙 = 30° 𝐴 = 𝜋(0.10𝑚)2
𝐸 = 2.0 × 103 𝑁/𝐶 𝐴 = 0.031𝑚2
Problem #2.1
Disk is oriented with 30°
ΦΕ = 𝐸𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙
103 𝑁
= 2.0 × 0.031𝑚2 (𝑐𝑜𝑠30°)
𝐶
2
ΦΕ = 53.69 𝑁. 𝑚 /𝐶

if 𝑛ො is now perpendicular
ΦΕ = 𝐸𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙
103 𝑁
= 2.0 × 0.031𝑚2 (𝑐𝑜𝑠90° = 0)
𝐶
Given: ΦΕ = 0
𝑟 = 0.10𝑚
𝜙 = 30° if 𝑛ො is parallel to 𝐸
ΦΕ = 𝐸𝐴
𝐸 = 2.0 × 103 𝑁/𝐶 103 𝑁
𝐴 = 0.031𝑚2 = 2.0 × 0.031𝑚2
𝐶
2
ΦΕ = 62.00 𝑁. 𝑚 /𝐶
Problem #2.2
A uniform electric field of magnitude 5 2 × 103 𝑁/𝐶
points toward north. Imagine a square surface of area
9.0𝑚2 . The normal to this surface makes an angle of 45°
with the direction of the electric field. What is the flux of
the electric field through the surface?

Given: Solution:
𝐴 = 9.0𝑚2
𝜙 = 45°
ΦΕ = 𝐸𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙
𝐸 = 5 2 × 103 𝑁/𝐶 103 𝑁
= 5 2× 9.0𝑚2 (𝑐𝑜𝑠45°)
𝐶
𝜱𝜠 = 𝟒. 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎 𝑵. 𝒎𝟐 /𝑪
𝟒
Electric Flux Example: Calculate the electric flux through a
cylinder with its axis parallel to the electric field direction.

E
 Electric Flux Example: Calculate the electric flux
through a cylinder with its axis parallel to the
electric field direction.

There are three parts to the cylinder:

E
The left end cap.
dA
 Electric Flux Example: Calculate the electric flux
through a cylinder with its axis parallel to the
electric field direction.

There are three parts to the cylinder:

The tube.
E
 Electric Flux Example: Calculate the electric flux
through a cylinder with its axis parallel to the
electric field direction.

There are three parts to the cylinder:

E
The right end cap.
dA
Let’s separately calculate the contribution of each
part to the flux, then add to get the total flux.

ΦE = රE ⋅ dA = න E ⋅ dAleft + න E ⋅ dAtube + න E ⋅ dAright

left tube right

E
The left end cap.
dA

The tube.
E

E
The right end cap.
dA
 E
The left end cap.
dA

Every dA on the left end cap is antiparallel to E. The angle between the two vectors
is 180

 E  dA
left
left =  E dA
left
left cos180 =  −E dA
left
left

E is uniform, so  −E dA
left
left = −E  dA left = −EA left
left
 The tube.
E

E
Let’s look down the axis of the tube. 

E is pointing at you. dA

Every dA is radial (perpendicular

to the tube surface). E

The angle between E and dA is 90. dA

 E
The angle between E and dA is 90.

dA

 E  dA
tube
tube =  E dA
tube
tube cos90 =  0 dA
tube
tube =0

The tube contributes nothing to the flux!

 E
The right end cap.
dA

Every dA on the right end cap is parallel to E. The angle

between the two vectors is 0


right
E  dAright = 
right
E dAright cos 0 = 
right
E dAright

E is uniform, so 
right
E dAright = E 
right
dAright = EA right
 The net (total) flux

E =  E  dA
left
left +  E  dA
tube
tube + 
right
E  dA right

E = −EAleft + 0 + EAright = 0

The flux is zero! Every electric field line that goes in also goes out.
 E

The net electric flux through a closed cylindrical surface is zero.

 +
- E

If there were a + charge inside the cylinder, there would be

more lines going out than in.

If there were a - charge inside the cylinder, there would be

more lines going in than out…

…which leads us to…

Gauss’s Law
The relationship between electric charge
and electric field was also formulated in
Gauss’s law
• Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855)
a German mathematician, generally
regarded as one of the greatest
mathematicians of all time.

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.

*“Mathematics is the Queen of the Sciences.”—Karl Gauss

 According to Gauss’s law, the flux of the electric
field 𝐸 through any closed surface, also called a Gaussian
surface, is equal to the net charge enclosed 𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 divided by
the permittivity of free space 𝜀𝑜
Mathematically,
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
Φ𝐸 = ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴Ԧ = Gauss’ s Law
𝜀𝑜
The total electric flux through a closed surface is equal to
the total electric charge inside the surface, divided by 𝜀𝑜 .
2 2
𝐶 𝐶
𝜀0 = 8.85419 × 10−12 ≅ 8.85 × 10 −12
𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚2 𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚2
 The figure below shows a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r
around a positive point charge +q. The electric field points out of the
Gaussian surface, so at every point on the surface 𝐸 is in the same
Ԧ
direction as 𝑑𝐴.

If the Gaussian surface encloses a negative point charge, then 𝐸

Ԧ
points into the surface at each point in the direction opposite 𝑑𝐴.
Example: use Gauss’ Law to calculate the electric field from an
isolated point charge q.

Let’s assume the point charge is +. E

The electric field everywhere

points away from the charge.

If you go any distance r away +q

from +q, the electric field is
always directed “out” and has
the same magnitude as the
electric field at any other r.
Example: use Gauss’ Law to calculate the electric field from an
isolated point charge q.

E
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀𝑜

+q
To apply Gauss’ Law, we really
want to pick a surface for which
we can easily evaluate 𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑 𝐴.
Ԧ

That means we want 𝐸 to everywhere

be either parallel or perpendicular to
the surface.
Example: use Gauss’ Law to calculate the electric field from an
isolated point charge q.

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 E
ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀𝑜

So let’s draw a Gaussian sphere of +q

radius r, enclosing and centered on
+q. “Centered on” makes it easy to
r
evaluate 𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑 𝐴.
Ԧ

Everywhere on the sphere, 𝐸 and 𝑑𝐴Ԧ dA

are parallel and E is constant so

ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴Ԧ = ර𝐸 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸 ර𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸 𝐴𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 = 𝐸 4𝜋𝑟 2

Example: use Gauss’ Law to calculate the electric field from an
isolated point charge q.

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 E
ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀𝑜
The charge enclosed by my
Gaussian sphere is q, so +q

𝑞
ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = 𝐸 4𝜋𝑟 2 = r
𝜀𝑜
𝑞
𝐸 4𝜋𝑟 =2 dA
𝜀𝑜
𝑞
𝐸=
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟 2
𝑞 The direction of E is shown in the diagram.
𝐸= 2
, away from +q Or you can say E is “radially out.”
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟
Problem #2.3
The figure below shows the field produced by two
point charges +q and -q. Find the electric flux through each
of the closed surfaces A, B, C, and D.
A, B,
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
Φ𝐸 = Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜 𝜀𝑜
+𝑞 −𝑞
Φ𝐸 = Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜 𝜀𝑜

C, D,
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
Φ𝐸 = Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜 𝜀𝑜
+𝑞 + (−𝑞) Φ𝐸 = 0
Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜
Φ𝐸 = 0
Problem #2.4
Calculate the electric flux through each Gaussian surface:
Solution:
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
a) Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜

2.0𝜇𝐶
Φ𝐸 =
𝐶2
8.85 × 10−12
𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚2
𝜱𝑬 = 𝟐. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑵 ∙ 𝒎𝟐 /𝑪

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
b) Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜

−2.0𝜇𝐶
Φ𝐸 =
𝐶2
8.85 × 10−12
𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚2
𝜱𝑬 = −𝟐. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑵 ∙ 𝒎𝟐 /𝑪
Problem #2.4
Calculate the electric flux through each Gaussian surface:

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
c) Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜

2.0𝜇𝐶
Φ𝐸 =
𝐶2
8.85 × 10−12
𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚2
𝜱𝑬 = 𝟐. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑵 ∙ 𝒎𝟐 /𝑪

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
d) Φ𝐸 = 𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
𝜀𝑜 e) Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜
−4.0𝜇𝐶 + 6.0𝜇𝐶 − 1.0𝜇𝐶 4.0𝜇𝐶 + 6.0𝜇𝐶 − 10.0𝜇𝐶
Φ𝐸 = Φ𝐸 =
−12 𝐶2 𝐶2
8.85 × 10 8.85 × 10 −12
𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚2 𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚2
𝜱𝑬 = 𝟏. 𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑵 ∙ 𝒎𝟐 /𝑪 𝜱𝑬 = 𝟎
Problem #2.5
A thin spherical shell of radius ro possesses a total net charge q that is
uniformly distributed on it. Determine the electric field at points a) outside the shell,
and b) inside the shell.

𝛷𝐸 = ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸(4𝜋𝑟 2 )
𝑞
Φ𝐸 =
𝜀𝑜
2
𝑞
𝐸(4𝜋𝑟 ) =
𝜀𝑜
𝑞
𝐸=
4𝜋𝑟 2 𝜀𝑜
1 𝑞
Solution: 𝐸= 2
a) The electric field will have the same magnitude at all 4𝜋𝜀 𝑜 𝑟
points on an imaginary gaussian surface, if we choose it
as a sphere of radius r (r > ro) concentric with the shell,
shown as the dashed circle A1.

𝑨 = 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
Problem #2.5
A thin spherical shell of radius ro possesses a total net charge
q that is uniformly distributed on it. Determine the electric field at
points a) outside the shell, and b) inside the shell.

Inside the shell, the field must be

symmetric.

𝛷𝐸 = ර𝐸 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸(4𝜋𝑟 2 )
𝑞
𝛷𝐸 = = 0
𝜀𝑜
-END OF LESSON-