Lesson 2.

Electric Flux

General Physics 2
1/2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
You learned that electric field is defined as the
force per unit charge at a given point.

2
Michael Faraday, an
English scientist,
introduced the
concepts of fields and
lines of force which
paved the way to
several important
discoveries in physics.
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Results of Michael
Faraday’s experiments
revealed that the
direction of the force
in a given electric field
may be represented
as field lines going in
and coming out of
negative and positive
charges, respectively.
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The summation of these field lines is what is
termed as electric flux. In this lesson, we will
learn more about the nature and the factors
affecting electric flux.

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What is electric flux?

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 Learning Competencies
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Calculate electric flux (STEM_GP12EM-IIIb-12).

● Solve problems involving flux in contexts such

as, but not limited to, system of point charges,
classical model of the atom, electrical
breakdown of air, charge pendulums, control of
electron and proton beams, and electrostatic
ink-jet printers (STEM_GP12EM-IIIb-14).
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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Explain the principle of electric flux.

● Calculate the electric flux in a given surface area.

● Identify the applications of electric flux in various

fields.

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 Electric Flux

Electric Flux
The word flux, derived from the Latin word which means
“flow,” is generally defined as the amount of something as it
passes through a particular region or area.
Thus, electric flux refers to the “rate of the flow of the
electric field,” as determined by the number of electric field
or flux lines passing through a given region or area.

Electric flux is the property of an electric field relating to the

measure of its strength.
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 Electric Flux

Electric field lines always emerge from a positive charge

and end at a negative charge.

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 Electric Flux

It also represent the distribution of electric flux

surrounding a particular charge.

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 Electric Flux

Electric flux may be inward or outward, depending on the

direction of the electric field vectors.

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 Electric Flux

A positive charge within a region will have an outward

electric flux passing through its surface.

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Electric Flux

A negative charge will have an inward electric flux

through its surface.

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 Electric Flux

A region containing a zero charge has “no net electric

flux” passing outward or inward.

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Tips

Easily recognize the direction of the

electric flux (inward or outward) by
identifying the sign (positive or
negative) of the enclosed charge.

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 Electric Flux

The net electric flux going

outward the surface of the
region is directly
proportional to the
magnitude of the net charge
enclosed by that region.

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What is the relationship
between the electric flux to the
number of electric field lines
passing through a surface area?

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 Electric Flux

In the case of uniform electric fields, the electric flux can

be calculated as

The “orientation of the surface relative to the lines of

force” greatly affects electric flux.
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Electric Flux

What do you think is the value of the electric flux

when A and E are parallel?

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Electric Flux

What do you think is the value of the electric flux

when A and E are at an angle?

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Electric Flux

What do you think is the value of the electric flux

when A and E are perpendicular?

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 Electric Flux

In the case of uniform electric fields, the electric flux can

be calculated as

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 Let’s Practice!

A uniform electric field with 9000 N/C is parallel to a

flat square area of 25 m2. Calculate the electric flux.

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 Let’s Practice!

A uniform electric field with 9000 N/C is parallel to a

flat square area of 25 m2. Calculate the electric flux.

The electric flux passing through the square region is

2.25 x 105 Nm2/C.
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Try It!

How much electric flux is contained in a

uniform electric field with 3500 N/C
parallel to a square surface with an area
49 m2?

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 Let’s Practice!

Identify the electric flux passing through a rectangle

with sides of 13 m and 25 m found in a region with a
uniform electric field of 200 N/C and an angle of 55º
with respect to the horizontal.

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 Let’s Practice!

Identify the electric flux passing through a rectangle

with sides of 13 m and 25 m found in a region with a
uniform electric field of 200 N/C and an angle of 55º
with respect to the horizontal.

The electric flux passing through the rectangular

region is 3.73 x 104 Nm2/C.
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Try It!

Calculate the electric flux traversing a

rectangle with a surface area of 90 m2, a
uniform electric field of 135 N/C, and an
angle of 85º from the horizontal.

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 Let’s Practice!

A disk which has a radius of 0.5 centimeters and is

tilted at an angle of 45º with respect to the
horizontal experiences an electric flux of
7.50 ✕ 10-3 Nm2/C. Identify the value of the uniform
electric field of the area.

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 Let’s Practice!

A disk which has a radius of 0.5 centimeters and is

tilted at an angle of 45º with respect to the horizontal
experiences an electric flux of
7.50 ✕ 10-3 Nm2/C. Identify the value of the uniform
electric field of the area.

The uniform electric field of the disk is 135.12 N/C.

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Try It!

Determine the value of the electric field

in a disk with a radius of 12 cm and
tilted at an angle of 63º. An electric flux
with a value of 13.76 Nm2/C is passing
through the area.

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 Application of Electric Flux

The concept of electric flux is used in a multitude of

applications in daily life. It is utilized in circuitries, energy
storage mechanisms, photocopiers, as well as in many
residential and commercial cleaning equipment such as
air purifiers and electrostatic precipitators.

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 Check Your Understanding

Identify whether each statement is true or false.

1. The magnitude of the net charge enclosed in a given
region is inversely proportional to the net electric flux
going outward the surface.

2. Electric flux refers to the “rate of the flow of the electric

field.”

3. There is no electric flux present when the electric field is

perpendicular to the surface. 34
 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Electric flux refers to the “rate of the flow of the

electric field,” and is signified by electric field flux
lines coming out or going into a particle.

● A positive charge within a region will have an

outward electric flux passing through its surface,
whereas a negative charge will have an inward
electric flux traversing its surface. A zero charge
contains no electric flux. 35
 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The net electric flux going outward the surface of

the region is directly proportional to the
magnitude of the net charge enclosed by that
region.

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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Electric Flux
solve the electric flux
when A and E Are
where when the surface and
Parallel
● ɸE is the electric flux, the electric angle are at
● E is the electric field 0° angle or are parallel
vector, and with each other.
● A is the surface
area.

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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Electric Flux
solve for the electric
when A and E Are
where flux when the surface
at an Angle
● ɸE is the electric flux, and the electric field
● E is the electric field are either
vector, perpendicular, or at a
● A is the surface area, tilted angle 𝜃.
and
● 𝜃 is the orientation
angle.

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Challenge Yourself

If a point charge is situated at the

very center of a solid cube, what will
be the amount of flux that will pass
through each of the faces of the
cube?

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Bibliography

Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics (11th ed). New York: Pearson Education, 2010.

Holt, R., Serway, R., & Faugn, J. Physics. Austin, TX: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006.

Macalalad, E. P. and Vergara, R. L. Exploring the Realms of Science: Physics. Valenzuela City: JO-ES
Publishing House, Inc., 2011.

Walker, J., Halliday, D., & Resnick, R. Fundamentals of Physics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011.

Vincent P. Coletta. Physics Fundamentals. Lakeville, MN: Physics Curriculum & Instruction, Inc., 2010.

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