Quiz August 25, 2010 Gauss’ Law

What are in the boxes?

X

A B
Y

The magnitude of the electric field at point X is greater than at *relates the electric fields at points on a closed Gaussian
point Y surface and the net charge enclosed by that surface.

A) True B) False (C) Don’t have clue 8/29/10 2

Concept of Flux Flux of an Electric Field

Air stream with uniform velocity, v, flows through a loop of area A

can define a flux: volume

Φ=
time Need to quantify the pattern.
θ
More lines comes from the box – more charge inside!
v
Q: How many lines cross the surface?

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Flux of an Electric Field Electric field flux

Definition of electric field flux:

Analogy: think of rain which falls into a bucket.
Less rainwater enters the bucket if it is tilted Φ E = EA⊥ = E⊥ A = EA cosθ

Field lines can either enter the closed surface area, or exit it.

number of lines ~ EA⊥ = EA cosθ = E⊥ A

The number of lines crossing a surface

is proportional to the perpendicular
component of the field.

Flux sign is consistent with the sign of the enclosed net charge.
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Example: Flux through a Cube Gauss’ Law

Consider a uniform electric field oriented parallel to the x - *Relates net flux, Φ, of an electric field through a closed
direction. Find the net flux through the surface of a cube of surface to the net charge that is enclosed by the surface.
edge L oriented as shown.
Number of lines which exit (or enter) the closed area is
y
proportional to the net charge inside:
E

z
Using Gauss’s law:
• can determine charge inside an area from electric field on surface;
• sometimes can find the field on surface based on charges inside

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Gauss’ Law Gauss’ Law and Coulomb’s Law
Are equivalent and we can derive one from the other.

- Gaussian
Surface

+ +

qenc
Φ E = EA⊥ = E⊥ A = = 4π kqenc
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εo 9 8/29/10 10

Gauss’ Law: Spherical Symmetry Gauss’ Law: Spherical Symmetry

• A shell of uniform charge attracts or repels a charged Prove
particle that is outside the shell as if all the shell’s charge
were concentrated at the center of the shell • A shell of uniform charge exerts no electrostatic force on
a charged particle that is located inside the shell.

Symmetry:
1.  field should be radial
2.  The same at every location
on the spherical surface

Gauss’s law: Φ E = 4πkq

q q
Φ e = EA = Φ e = EA =
εo εo
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Gauss’ Law: Spherical Symmetry From Lecture #1: Conductors versus Insulators
Electric Field inside and outside a shell of uniform charge
distribution •  Insulators: material in which electric charges are
Demo: 5A-13 No “frozen” in place.
Internal Field

•  Conductors: material in which electric charges can

move around “freely.

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Conductors Conductors: Shielding from an Electrical Field

If an excess charge is placed on an isolated conductor, that •  Electric field lines for an
amount of charge will move entirely to the surface of the oppositely charged metal
conductor. None of the excess charge will be found within cylinder and metal plate.
the body of the conductor.
Note that:
1.  Electric field lines are
perpendicular to the
conductors.

2.  There are no electric field

lines inside the cylinder.

3.  The density of field lines

is greatest at regions of
greatest curvature
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Conductors: Shielding from an Electrical Field Infinite Line of charge density λ
•  From Symmetry: E-field only
y
student depends on distance r from line Er
•  Therefore, select the Gaussian Er
sensor surface to be a cylinder of radius r
sparks and length h aligned with the x-
axis.
+ + +++++++ + +++++++++++++ + + + + + +
x
h
• Apply Gauss’ Law and assume uniform charge density λ:

•  On the ends,


•  On the barrel,

 
screened cage Van de Graaff ε 0 ∫ E ⋅ dA = qenclosed
generator
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