CONTINUOUS CHARGE DISTRIBUTION

Continuous charge distribution means charges are closely packed.

a. Linear charge distribution
If the charges are arranged along a line, it is called linear charge distribution.
The linear charge density (𝜆) is defined as the charge per unit length.
𝑑𝑞
i.e, 𝜆= 𝑑𝑙
; unit : C/m [coulomb / metre]
b. Surface charge distribution
Here the charges are distributed over a surface. Surface charge density (𝜎) is
defined as the charge per unit area.
𝑑𝑞
i.e, 𝜎 = 𝑑𝑆 ; unit : C/m2
c. Volume charge distribution
Here the charge is distributed over a given volume. Volume charge density
(𝜌) is defined as the charge per unit volume.
𝑑𝑞
I.e, 𝜌= ; unit : C/m3
𝑑𝑉

ELECTRIC FLUX
Electric flux (𝜙E) is defined as the total number of electric field lines
passing normally through a surface.
Electric flux through a small area ‘dS’
is defined as,
d𝜙E = E.dS
The total flux through the surface S is,
𝜙E = ∫ 𝑬. 𝒅𝑺

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Note:
1. Electric flux is a scalar quantity.
2. Unit : Nm2/C or Vm
3. The normal to the surface gives the direction of area vector.

GAUSS’S LAW IN ELECTROSTATICS

It states that, the total electric flux over a closed surface enclosing a
charge is equal to 1/𝜀0 times the net charge enclosed.
𝑞
i.e, 𝜙E = ∮ 𝑬. 𝒅𝑺 =
𝜀0

Gaussian surface : Any hypothetical or imaginary closed surface enclosing a charge

is called a Gaussian surface of that charge.
Note: By a clever choice of Gaussian surface, we can easily find electric fields
produced by certain symmetric charge configurations, which are otherwise quite
difficult to evaluate by the direct application of Coulomb’s law and principle of
superposition.
Proof of Gauss’s law:
Consider a positive point charge ‘q’ placed at a point. Imagine a sphere (Gaussian
surface) of radius ‘r’ with ‘q’ at the centre.
Consider a small area ‘dS’ around P. At
P, the direction of E and dS are the
same. Hence, the angle between E and
dS is Zero.
Thus we can write,
𝜙E = ∮ 𝑬. 𝒅𝑺
= ∮ 𝐸𝑑𝑆 cos 0 [∵ E ∥ dS ]
= ∮ 𝐸𝑑𝑆

LITTLE FLOWER ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL, KARUVANCHAL

By symmetry, the magnitude of electric field at any point on sphere is the same
(since sphere is a collection of equidistant points), which is,
1 𝑞
E=
4𝜋𝜀 0 𝑟 2

Thus,
𝜙E = ∮ 𝐸𝑑𝑆
= E∮ 𝑑𝑆
1 𝑞
= 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2 ∮
𝑑𝑆

1 𝑞
= 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2
.4𝜋r2 [ ∵ ∮ 𝑑𝑆= 4𝜋r2]
𝑞
i.e, 𝜙E = , hence proved.
𝜀0

Coulomb’s law from Gauss’s theorem:

Consider a positive point charge ‘q’ placed at a point. Imagine a sphere (Gaussian
surface) of radius ‘r’ with ‘q’ at the centre.
Consider a small area ‘dS’ around P. At P, the direction of E and dS are the same.
Hence, the angle between E and dS is Zero.
Thus we can write,
𝜙E = ∮ 𝑬. 𝒅𝑺
= ∮ 𝐸𝑑𝑆 cos 0 [∵ E ∥ dS ]
= ∮ 𝐸𝑑𝑆
= E∮ 𝑑𝑆
𝜙E = E. 4𝜋r2 - -- --- --- -- --- - (1)
By Gauss’s theorem,
𝑞
𝜙E = ∮ 𝑬. 𝒅𝑺 = - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2)
𝜀0

From (1) and (2),

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 𝑞
E. 4𝜋r2 =
𝜀0
1 𝑞
⇒ E=
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2

This is the electric field at the surface of the sphere. The force on the point charge q 0 , if
placed on the surface S will be,

F = q0.E
1 𝑞𝑞0
= .
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2

This proves Coulomb’s law.

LITTLE FLOWER ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL, KARUVANCHAL