APPLICATIONS OF GAUSS LAW Sec 22-4

OBJECTIVES
Use Gausss law to calculate the electric field generated at a
point by highly symmetrical charge distributions
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Find the electric field at any point inside or outside the sphere with radius R
where a positive charge q is placed on it.

+ +
+ +

+ R +

+ +

+ +
+
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Find the electric field at any point inside or outside the sphere with radius R
where a positive charge q is placed on it.

+ + Conductor: all charge must be on the

+ +
surface of the sphere, free to move,
+ R + no preferred position
+ +
Uniformly distributed charge
+ +
+
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Find the electric field at any point inside or outside the sphere with radius R
where a positive charge q is placed on it.

+ +
+ + Spherical symmetry:
+ R + Radial electric field
No preferred direction parallel to
+ +
the surface
+ + No preferred orientation to the
+
sphere
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Find the electric field at any point inside or outside the sphere with radius R
where a positive charge q is placed on it.

+ +
+ + Spherical symmetry:
+ R +
concentric spherical surface
+ +

+ +
+
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Electric field outside: Gaussian surface with radius r > R

+ +
+ +
Identify: Electric field E is
+
R +

+
r + perpendicular at every point to the surface with
area = 4 2
+ +
+ pointing outward from the interior of the surface
since charge is positive.
uniform

Then,
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Electric field outside: Gaussian surface with radius r > R

+ +
+ +

+
R +

+
r +

+ +
+
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Electric field at the surface (just outside): Gaussian surface with radius r = R

Identify: Electric field E is

+ +
+ +
perpendicular at every point to the surface with
+
R + area
+
R + pointing outward from the interior of the surface
since charge is positive.
+ +
+ uniform

Then,
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Electric field at the surface (just outside): Gaussian surface with radius r = R

+ +
+ +

+
R +

+
R +

+ +
+
 1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
Electric field inside: Gaussian surface with radius r < R

+ +
+ +

+ R
R +

+ r +
Inside solid conductor,
+ +
+
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge +
+ +
+

+ R +

+ +

+ +
+

inside, r < R
1. A Solid Conducting Sphere of Charge
 2. An Infinite Line of Charge
Find the electric field everywhere due to an infinitely long line charge of
uniform charge density .

Result using Coulombs Law, at

any point P at a perpendicular Eline
distance R/ radial distance R
from the wire
2 0 R
+||: radially outward
||: radially inward
 2. An Infinite Line of Charge
Find the electric field everywhere due to an infinitely long line charge of
uniform charge density .

Assume: field point is

very far from ends of
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
the line charge.
 2. An Infinite Line of Charge
Find the electric field everywhere due to an infinitely long line charge of
uniform charge density .

Cylindrical symmetry:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
coaxial cylindrical
surface with flat
ends perpendicular
to symmetry axis
 2. An Infinite Line of Charge
Find the electric field everywhere due to an infinitely long line charge of
uniform charge density .

Cylindrical symmetry:

Cylindrical Gaussian
surface with radius
, length

2. An Infinite Line of Charge
Electric field everywhere: Gaussian surface with length L, radius R
At the ends:

Since radial parallel to

these ends
2. An Infinite Line of Charge
Electric field everywhere: Gaussian surface with length L, radius R

At the curved surfaces:

Assume: field point is very far from ends of the

line charge so that E constant at the curved
surfaces.
2. An Infinite Line of Charge
Electric field everywhere: Gaussian surface with length L, radius R

Now,

so that

Equal to the result using Coulombs Law, at

any point P at a perpendicular distance R.
2. An Infinite Line of Charge

Remarks:

1. Obtained this result via Coulombs law,

much more tedious to do
2. Short wire?
Symmetry is lost E is not uniform
over the Gaussian surface
Gausss law cannot be used
Application: The Coaxial Cable

Inside a coaxial cable is a conducting wire within a hollow conducting

cylinder. Gausss law is used to calculate the static electric field for such
configuration.
3. Uniformly charged (insulating) solid sphere
Find the electric field at a distance r from the center of the sphere with
radius R where a positive charge Q is uniformly distributed throughout its
volume.
+ + +

+ + + + + +
R
+ + + + + +

+ + + + + +

+ + +
3. Uniformly charged (insulating) solid sphere
Electric field outside: Gaussian surface with radius r > R

+ + +

+ + + + + + E is perpendicular at every point in the surface with

R area A, pointing outward since charge is positive. Then,
+ + + + + +
r
+ + + + + +

+ + +
3. Uniformly charged (insulating) solid sphere
Electric field inside: Gaussian surface with radius r < R

+ + +

+ + + + + +
R
R
+ + + + + +
r
+ + + + + +

+ + +
3. Uniformly charged (insulating) solid sphere
Electric field inside: Gaussian surface with radius r < R

+ + +

+ + + +
RR + +

+ + +
r+ + +

+ + + + + +

+ + +
3. Uniformly charged (insulating) solid sphere
Electric field at the surface (just outside): Gaussian surface with radius r = R

+ + +

+ + + + + +
R
+ + + + + +
R
+ + + + + +

+ + +
3. Uniformly charged (insulating) solid sphere
Find the electric field at a distance r from the center of the sphere with
radius R where a positive charge Q is uniformly distributed throughout its
volume.

+ + +

+ + + + + +
R
+ + + + + +

+ + + + + +

+ + +
 4. An Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
Find the electric field caused by a thin, flat, infinite sheet on which there is
uniform charge density .

Result using Coulombs Law:

E plane Edisk
R
2 0
 4. An Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
Find the electric field caused by a thin, flat, infinite sheet on which there is
uniform charge density .

+ + + + + +

+ + + + + +

+ + + + + +
4. An Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
Electric field everywhere: Gaussian surface (cylinder) with area A
At the ends:

At the curved surfaces:

4. An Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
Electric field everywhere: Gaussian surface (cylinder) with area A

Now,

so that

Equal to the result using Coulombs Law.

 4. An Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
Find the electric field caused by a thin, flat, infinite sheet on which there is
uniform charge density .

Alternative surface: Gaussian Pillbox with area A

+ + + + + +

+ + + + + +

+ + + + + +
What is the Electric field Produced by Two Parallel Plates of charges
+ and -
SPHERICAL INSULATING SHELL
A spherical insulating shell
has inner and outer radii a
and b as shown. It carries a
uniform volume charge
a density 0 .
What are the magnitudes of
b the electric field E at region
1. r<a?
2. a<r<b?
Where r is the radius of the
Gaussian surface.
SPHERICAL INSULATING SHELL
A spherical insulating shell has
inner and outer radii a and b as
shown. It carries a uniform
volume charge density 0 .
a What are the magnitudes of the
electric field E at region
b 1. r<a? = 0

Where r is the radius of the

Gaussian surface.
SPHERICAL INSULATING SHELL
A spherical insulating shell has
inner and outer radii a and b as
shown. It carries a uniform
volume charge density 0 .
a What are the magnitudes of the
electric field E at region
b 0 3 3
2. a<r<b? =
30 2

Where r is the radius of the

Gaussian surface.
ATTENDANCE QUIZ: SPHERICAL
INSULATING SHELL A spherical insulating
shell has inner and
outer radii a and b as
shown. It carries a
uniform volume charge
a density 0 .
What are the
b magnitudes of the
electric field E at
region
3. r>b?
ATTENDANCE QUIZ: SPHERICAL
INSULATING SHELL A spherical insulating
shell has inner and
outer radii a and b as
shown. It carries a
uniform volume charge
a density 0 .
What are the
b magnitudes of the
electric field E at
region
0 3 3
3. r>b? =
30 2
OBJECTIVES
Use Gausss law to calculate the electric field generated at a
point by highly symmetrical charge distributions
1. Identify symmetry of the charge distribution.
2. Draw Gaussian surface with same symmetry of the
distribution so that anywhere on the surface

Note: Surface must enclose the desired region where E

will be determined.
3. Determine net charge enclosed by the surface.
4. Solve for E using Gausss law.
DISCUSSION 2 COVERAGE
ATTENDANCE QUIZ COVERAGE (FRI,FEB 3)
SEC 22-5 CHARGES ON CONDUCTORS