chen (jc86879) – Flux – bauer – (3103-1) 1

This print-out should have 19 questions.

Multiple-choice questions may continue on 2. (a + b) A
the next column or page – find all choices
before answering. 3. 0
OPTIONAL: 11-13, 18, 19. The assign-
ment is worth 14 points. 4. b A
p
001 1.0 points 5. A a2 + b2
For this question, enter the ABSOLUTE
VALUE of the flux. 6. (b − a) A
An electric field of magnitude 25000 N/C
and directed upward perpendicular to the 7. (a − b) A
Earth’s surface exists on a day when a thun- Explanation:
derstorm is brewing. A truck that can be When the surface is in the yz plane, it
approximated as a rectangle 8.7 m by 4.4 m is perpendicular to the x-direction, so the
is traveling along a road that is inclined 15 ◦ resulting flux is due to the x-component of
relative to the ground. the electric field only:
Determine the electric flux through the bot- I
tom of the truck. ~ · dA
~.
Φ= E
Surface
Correct answer: 9.24391 × 105 N · m2 /C. For a uniform electric field and a flat sur-
Explanation: face, this simplifies to

~ ·A
Φ=E ~ = (aı̂ + b ̂) · Aı̂ = a A .
Let : E = 25000 N/C ,
y y y
ℓ = 8.7 m , E E E
w = 4.4 m , and
x x x
θ = 15◦ .
z z z
By Gauss’ law, fig 1 fig 2 fig 3

~ ·A
Φ=E ~.
003 (part 2 of 3) 1.0 points
The flux through the bottom of the car is What is the flux if the surface lies in the xz
plane?

Φ = E A cos θ = E ℓ w cos θ 1. (a + b) A
= (25000 N/C)(8.7 m)(4.4 m) cos 15◦
2. (b − a) A
= 9.24391 × 105 N · m2 /C .
3. a A

002 (part 1 of 3) 1.0 points 4. (a − b) A

A uniform electric field E~ = a ı̂ + b ̂, inter-
sects a surface of area A. 5. 0
What is the flux through this area if the
surface lies in the yz plane? 6. b A correct
p
1. a A correct 7. A a2 + b2
 chen (jc86879) – Flux – bauer – (3103-1)
Explanation:
When the surface is in the xz plane, it is
perpendicular to the y-direction:
Φ = (aı̂ + b ̂) · A ̂ = b A .
004 (part 3 of 3) 1.0 points
What is the flux if the surface lies in the xy
plane?
1. (a + b) A
2. 0 correct
p the same point?
3. A a2 + b2
4. a A
5. b A
6. (b − a) A
7. (a − b) A
Explanation:
When the surface is in the xy plane, it is
perpendicular to the z-direction. There is
no component of the electric field in the z-
direction, so there is no component of the
electric field perpendicular to the surface and
Φ = (aı̂ + b ̂) · A k̂ = 0
005 (part 1 of 6) 1.0 points
A positive test charge is placed at the center
of a spherical Gaussian surface.
What happens to the net flux through the
Gaussian surface when the surface is replaced
by a cube of the same volume whose center is
at the same point?
1. The net flux increases.
2. No change correct
3. The net flux is zero.
4. The net flux decreases but is nonvanish-
ing.
2
Explanation:
By Gauss’ Law,
~ = Q.
I
ΦS = ~ · dA
E
S ǫ0
As long as the charge remains the same, and
it is enclosed by any Gaussian surface, the net
flux will remain the same.
006 (part 2 of 6) 1.0 points
What happens to the net flux through the
Gaussian surface when the sphere is replaced
by a cube of one-third the volume centered at
1. The net flux decreases but is nonvanish-
ing.
2. No change correct
3. The net flux is zero.
4. The net flux increases.
Explanation:
007 (part 3 of 6) 1.0 points
What happens to the net flux through the
Gaussian surface when the charge is moved
off center in the original sphere, but remains
within the sphere?
1. The net flux is zero.
2. The net flux decreases but is nonvanish-
ing.
3. The net flux increases.
4. No change correct
Explanation:
008 (part 4 of 6) 1.0 points
What happens to the net flux through the
Gaussian surface when the charge is moved
just outside the original sphere?
1. The net flux decreases but is nonvanish-
ing.
 chen (jc86879) – Flux – bauer – (3103-1) 3
ing.
2. The net flux increases. Explanation:
Since the net enclosed charge increases, the
3. The net flux is zero. correct flux must increase.
4. No change
011 1.0 points
Explanation: The net electric flux through a closed surface
If the charge is moved outside the Gaussian is
surface, then the amount of enclosed charge is
zero and the net flux is zero. One can imagine 1. infinite only if there are no charges en-
the field lines going out from the charge. Any closed by the surface.
line entering the closed Gaussian surface will
also leave, so the net flux is zero. 2. zero if only negative charges are enclosed
by the surface.
009 (part 5 of 6) 1.0 points
The positive test charge is again placed at 3. zero if only positive charges are enclosed
the center of a spherical Gaussian surface. by the surface.
What happens to the net flux through
the Gaussian surface when a second positive 4. zero if the net charge enclosed by the
charge is placed near, but outside, the original surface is zero. correct
sphere?
5. infinite only if the net charge enclosed by
1. No change correct the surface if zero.
Explanation:
2. The net flux is zero. By Gauss’s law, the net Z electric flux
through a closed surface is E ~ = Q,
~ · dA
3. The net flux decreases but is nonvanish- s ǫ0
ing. so the net flux is zero only if the enclosed net
charge is also zero.
4. The net flux increases.
012 1.0 points
Explanation: A spherical shell of radius 7 m is placed
From Part 4 it is clear that an exterior in a uniform electric field with magnitude
charge does not contribute to the flux, so the 4490 N/C.
flux remains the same. Find the total electric flux through the
shell.
010 (part 6 of 6) 1.0 points
What happens to the net flux through the Correct answer: 0 N · m2 /C.
Gaussian surface when a second positive
charge is placed inside the original spherical Explanation:
Gaussian surface?
Let : r = 7 m and
1. The net flux is zero.
E = 4490 N/C .
2. No change The uniform field enters the shell on one side
and exits on the other, so the total flux is zero:
3. The net flux increases. correct I
Φ= E ~ · dA~ = 0 .
4. The net flux decreases but is nonvanish-
 chen (jc86879) – Flux – bauer – (3103-1) 4

013 1.0 points

~ = q
I
The charges 6.68 µC, −8.4 µC, 36.5 µC, and Φ= ~ · dA
E
−68 µC are located inside a submarine. ǫ0
Calculate the net electric flux through the 4.57 × 10−8 C
=
submarine. The permittivity of a vacuum is 8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2
8.8542 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2 .
= 5161.4 N · m2 /C .
Correct answer: −3.75189 × 106 N · m2 /C.
Explanation: 015 (part 1 of 2) 1.0 points
A closed surface with dimensions a = b =
0.176 m and c = 0.2992 m is located as in
Let : q1 = 6.68 µC = 6.68 × 10−6 C , the figure. The electric field throughout the
q2 = −8.4 µC = −8.4 × 10−6 C , region is nonuniform and defined by E ~ =
2
q3 = 36.5 µC = 3.65 × 10−5 C , (α + β x )ı̂ where x is in meters, α = 4 N/C,
and β = 3 N/(C · m2 ).
q4 = −68 µC = −6.8 × 10−5 C , and
ǫ0 = 8.8542 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2 . y E
a
The total charge is

Q = q1 + q2 + q3 + q4
a
= 6.68 × 10−6 C + (−8.4 × 10−6 C)
+ (3.65 × 10−5 C) + (−6.8 × 10−5 C)
= −3.322 × 10−5 C , x

so from Gauss’s Law, b

Q −3.322 × 10−5 C
Φ= =
ǫ0 8.8542 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2
= −3.75189 × 106 N · m2 /C .
014 1.0 points
A point charge of 0.0457 µC is inside a pyra-
mid.
Determine the total electric flux through
the surface of the pyramid. The permittivity
of a vacuum is 8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2 .
Correct answer: 5161.4 N · m2 /C.
Explanation:
Let : q = 0.0457 µC = 4.57 × 10−8 C and
ǫ0 = 8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2 .
By Gauss’ Law,
z c
What is the magnitude of the net charge
enclosed by the surface?
Correct answer: 1.60314 × 10−13 C.
Explanation:
Let : a = b = 0.176 m ,
c = 0.2992 m ,
α = 4 N/C , and
β = 3 N/(C · m2 ) .
The electric field throughout the region is
directed along the x-axis and the direction of
dA~ is perpendicular to its surface, so E ~ is
perpendicular to d A ~ over the two faces which
are parallel to the yz plane; i.e., only the
left and right sides of the right rectangular
parallel piped which encloses the charge will
contribute to the flux.
 chen (jc86879) – Flux – bauer – (3103-1) 5
The net electric flux through the cube is
~ = q .
I
Z Z Φ= ~ · dA
E
ǫ0
∆Φ = E x d A⊥ − E x d A⊥
right side left side The total flux through the cube is given by
= a b α + β(a + c)2 − α − β a2
 
q 1.48 × 10−5 C
2
= a b β (2 a c + c ) = a b c β (2 a + c) Φtot = =
ǫ0 8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2
= (0.176 m) (0.176 m) (0.2992 m) = 1.67153 × 106 N · m2 /C ,
× [3 N/(C · m2 )]
× [2 (0.176 m) + 0.2992 m] so the flux through one side of the cube is
= 0.018106 N · m2 /C ,
1
Φ= Φtot = 2.78588 × 105 N · m2 /C .
so the enclosed charge is 6

q = ǫ0 ∆Φ 018 1.0 points

= [8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /(N · m2 )] A (9 m by 9 m) square base pyramid with
× (0.018106 N · m2 /C) height of 2.1 m is placed in a uniform vertical
electric field of 28.7 N/C.
= 1.60314 × 10−13 C .

2.1 m
016 (part 2 of 2) 1.0 points
What is the sign of the charge enclosed in the b
surface?
9m
1. Cannot be determined 28.7 N/C

2. Positive correct Find the total electric flux which goes out
through the pyramid’s four slanted surfaces.
3. Negative No charge is contained in the pyramid.
Explanation:
Since more flux comes out of the surface Correct answer: 2324.7 N · m2 /C.
than goes into the surface, the sign of the Explanation:
enclosed charge must be positive.

017 1.0 points Let : s = 9 m ,

A charge of 14.8 µC is at the geometric center
of a cube.
What is the electric flux through one of
the faces? The permittivity of a vacuum is
8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2 .
Correct answer: 2.78588 × 105 N · m2 /C.
Explanation:
h = 2.1 m , and
E = 28.7 N/C .
By Gauss’ law, Φ = E ~ ·A~ . Since there is no
charge contained in the pyramid, the net flux
through the pyramid must be 0 N/C. Since
the field is vertical, the flux through the base
of the pyramid is equal and opposite to the
flux through the four sides, so

Φ = E A = E s2 = (28.7 N/C) (9 m)2

Let : q = 14.8 µC = 1.48 × 10−5 C and
ǫ0 = 8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N · m2 . = 2324.7 N · m2 /C .
 chen (jc86879) – Flux – bauer – (3103-1) 6

019 1.0 points

A point charge of 1 µC is located a distance
22.7 m from an infinite plane.
Determine the electric flux through the
plane due to the point charge. The permittiv-
ity of a vacuum is 8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N m2 .

Correct answer: 56470.5 N m2 /C.

Explanation:

Let : q = 1 µC and
ǫ0 = 8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N m2 .
q
One-half of the flux created by the charge
ǫ0
goes through the plane:

q 1 µC
Φ1 = =
2ǫ0 2(8.85419 × 10−12 C2 /N m2 )
= 56470.5 N m2 /C .