Gauss’s Law

By

Dr.Mustansar Hayat Saggu

 Gauss’s Law

  q
What does
 E  dA 
0 How do
it mean? we use it?
What does it mean?
 First we need the concept of flux.

Area A
What does it mean?
 First we need the concept of flux.
Electric
field E

Area A
What does it mean?
 First we need the concept of flux.
Electric
field E

Area A

Flux is just electric field times area   EA

What does it mean?
 First we need the concept of flux.


E

If electric field does not pass through the area, flux is zero.
0
What does it mean?
 First we need the concept of flux.

A


In general we use a normal vector to the plane, A.
What does it mean?
 First we need the concept of flux.


E 
A



For more general angles the flux varies as cos.

 
  EA cos  E  A
 What does it mean?
 First we need the concept of flux.

cos  1   A cos  0
E E  E
A
  0
 
  90
A 

  EA 0
For more general angles the flux varies as cos.
 
  EA cos  E  A
What does it mean?
 The total flux through a closed surface.
What does it mean?
 The total flux through a closed surface.
 We use the convention that
the normal always points
outward.
What does it mean?
 The total flux through a closed surface.
  We use the convention that
E
the normal always points
outward.
What does it mean?
 The total flux through a closed surface.
  We use the convention that
E
the normal always points
outward.
 For the four sides,
 
EA0
What does it mean?
 The total flux through a closed surface.
  We use the convention that
E
the normal always points
outward.
 For the four sides,
 
EA0
 For the top,
 
E  A  EA
What does it mean?
 The total flux through a closed surface.
  We use the convention that
E
the normal always points
outward.
 For the four sides,
 
EA0
 For the top,
 
E  A  EA
 For the bottom,
 
E  A   EA
What does it mean?
 The total flux through a closed surface.
  We use the convention that
E
the normal always points
outward.
 For the four sides,
 
EA0
 For the top,
 
E  A  EA
 For the bottom,
 
E  A   EA
 The total flux is
  EA  EA  0
What does it mean?
 What does the integral mean?
 

E    E  dA
 The circle indicates an
integral over the closed
surface.
What does it mean?
 What does the integral mean?
 

E    E  dA
 The circle ( square is
circle) indicates an integral
over the closed surface.
 In practice we will not have
to evaluate the interval.
What does it mean?
 What does the integral mean?
 

E    E  dA
 The circle indicates an
integral over the closed
surface.
 In practice we will not have
to evaluate the interval.
 We break the surface up
into sections where the flux
is easy to calculate.
 What does it mean?
 What does the integral mean?
 

E    E  dA
 The circle indicates an
integral over the closed
surface.

dA  In practice we will not have
to evaluate the interval.
 We break the surface up
into sections where the flux
In principle sum over  is easy to calculate.
infinitesimal elements dA.
What does it mean?
 The full Gauss’s law.
  q
 E  dA 

E
0
 The left side is the total flux
out through the surface.
What does it mean?
 The full Gauss’s law.
  q
 E  dA 

E
0
 The left side is the total flux
out through the surface.
+q  The right side is
proportional to the charge,
q, inside the surface.
What does it mean?
 The full Gauss’s law.
  q
 E  dA 

E
0
 The left side is the total flux out
through the surface.
 The right side is proportional to the
+q charge, q, inside the surface.
 The constant, 0, is the usual
vacuum permittivity.
 (permittivity is the measure of
resistance that is encountered when
forming an electric field in a
medium)
 How do we use it?
 For example, consider a charge +q.

+q

r
 How do we use it?
 For example, consider a charge +q.
 We choose a spherical surface.

+q

r
 How do we use it?
 For example, consider a charge +q. 
 We choose a spherical surface.  E
 By spherical symmetry the electric E
field must be directed radially
outwards.

+q 
E


E 
E
 How do we use it?
 For example, consider a charge +q. 
 We choose a spherical surface.  E
 By spherical symmetry the electric E
field must be directed radially
outwards.
 The magnitude of the electric field
must be constant on the surface.
+q 
E


E 
E
 How do we use it?
 For example, consider a charge +q. 
 We choose a spherical surface.  E
 By spherical symmetry the electric E
field must be directed radially
outwards.
 The magnitude of the electric field
must be constant on the surface.
 The flux is just EA. +q 
E


E 
E
 How do we use it?
 For example, consider a charge +q. 
 We choose a spherical surface.  E
 By spherical symmetry the electric E
field must be directed radially
outwards.
 The magnitude of the electric field
must be constant on the surface.
 The flux is just EA. +q 
 Gauss’s law gives E
q
EA 
0
r


E 
E
 How do we use it?
 For example, consider a charge +q. 
 We choose a spherical surface.  E
 By spherical symmetry the electric E
field must be directed radially
outwards.
 The magnitude of the electric field
must be constant on the surface.
 The flux is just EA. +q 
 Gauss’s law gives E
q
EA 
0
r
q
E 4 r 2 
0 
E 
E
 How do we use it?
 For example, consider a charge +q. 
 We choose a spherical surface.  E
 By spherical symmetry the electric E
field must be directed radially
outwards.
 The magnitude of the electric field
must be constant on the surface.
 The flux is just EA. +q 
 Gauss’s law gives E
q
EA 
0
r
q
E 4 r 2 
0 
q
E 
E E
4 0 r 2
 How do we use it?
 Consider a shell of charge +q. 
 We choose a spherical surface.  E
 By spherical symmetry the electric E
field must be directed radially
outwards.
 The magnitude of the electric field
must be constant on the surface.
 The flux is just EA. +q 
 Gauss’s law gives E
q
EA 
0
r
q
E 4 r 2 
0 
q
E 
E E
4 0 r 2
 How do we use it?
 Consider a shell of charge +q. 
 We choose a spherical surface.  E
 By spherical symmetry the electric E
field must be directed radially
outwards. +q
 The magnitude of the electric field
must be constant on the surface.
 The flux is just EA. 
 Gauss’s law gives E
0
EA 
0
r
E 4 r 2  0 
E 
E 0 E
 How do we use it?
General procedure: 
 Choose a surface corresponding  E
to the symmetry of the problem. E
 Break the surface up into sub
surfaces where the electric field is
either,
1. constant and parallel to the
normal (minimum), or +q 
2. perpendicular to the normal E
( maximum).
r
 Evaluate the total flux using the
electric field as a free parameter.

E 
 Solve Gauss’s law for E. E
http://www.dominicberry.org/presentations/gauss.ppt
 The End

Thank you Dear Students