CHAPTER (3)

ELECTRIC FLUX
DENSITY
Electric flux (𝝍𝒆 ):

The electric flux concept is based on the following rules:

1- Electric flux begins from (+ ve) charge and ends
to (-ve) charge
2- Electric field at a point is tangent to the electric
flux line passing with this point and out wide.

3- In the absence of (-ve) charge the electric flux

terminates at infinity.
4- The magnitude of the electric field at a point is
proportional to the magnitude of the electric flux
density at this point.
5- The number of electric flux lines from a (+ ve) charge Q
is equal to Q in SI unit

𝝍𝒆 = 𝑸
Electric flux density����⃗
𝑫 displacement vector):

In free space, the electric flux density vector �𝐃

⃗ is defined
as
∆𝝍
�𝐃
�⃗ = 𝒂
� 𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒎∆𝒔→𝟎 𝒆 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐 ,
∆𝒔
Where: ∆𝝍𝒆 equals the number of electric lines that are
normal to the surface ∆S

�⃗ . ����⃗
𝝍𝒆 = � �𝐃 𝒅𝒔

Relation Between �𝐃⃗ and 𝐄

�⃗ due to Point Charge

If we locate a point charge Q at the origin, the electric flux

density �𝐃
�⃗ can be evaluated by dividing 𝝍𝒆 by the surface area of
the sphere, thus

𝝍𝒆
��⃗ = 𝒂
𝐃 � 𝒓𝒔
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔

𝑸
�𝐃⃗ = 𝒂
� 𝒓𝒔 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝟐
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝒔

�⃗ on the surface at 𝒓𝒔 due to Q, is

The expression for 𝐄

𝑸
�⃗ = 𝒂
𝐄 � 𝒓𝒔 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝟐𝒔
 ��⃗ and 𝐄
From the expressions for 𝐃 �⃗, it can be seen that

�𝐃
�⃗ = 𝜺𝒐 𝐄
�⃗

The relation between �𝐃 �⃗ and 𝐄

�⃗ was derived using a Point charge Q,
but also it is valid for general charge distribution,

�𝑬⃗ = ∭ 𝝆𝒗 𝒅𝒗𝟐 𝒂 �𝑹
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝑹
𝝆𝒗 𝒅𝒗
�𝑫
�⃗ = � �
𝒂
𝟒𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝑹
�⃗
From Faraday’s experiment, it is found that, 𝝍𝒆 and thus 𝐃
are independent of the dielectric media in which Q is
embedded.

Example:
Find the electric flux 𝝍𝒆 that passes through the
surface shown in the figure. Where:

�𝐃⃗ = �𝒚 𝒂 �𝒚 �𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐

�𝒙 + 𝒙 𝒂

Solution
�⃗ . ����⃗
𝝍𝒆 = � �𝐃 𝒅𝒔
𝟐 𝟑

𝝍𝒆 = � � �𝒚 𝒂 �𝒚 �𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 . 𝒂
�𝒙 + 𝒙 𝒂 � 𝒚 𝒅𝒙𝒅𝒛
𝟎 𝟎
 𝟑
𝒙𝟐 𝟗
𝝍𝒆 = � 𝟐 � [𝒛]𝟐𝟎 𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟐 = �𝟐 𝒙 𝟐� 𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟐 = 𝟗𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝑪
𝟎

Gauss’s law
As it is stated before, the total electric flux emanating from a
charge + Q [C] is equal to Q [C] in the SI units.
The previous statement can be restated by saying that the
total electric flux passing through any closed imaginary
surface, enclosing the charge Q [C], is equal to Q [C] in the
SI units.
Since the charge Q is enclosed by the closed surface, so the
charge Q will be named as 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 .

Gauss’s law states that: the total flux out of a closed

surface is equal to the net charges within the surface. This
can be written in integral form as:

��⃗ . ����⃗
𝝍𝒆 = � 𝒅 𝝍 𝒆 = � 𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅
Gauss’s law is used in order to determine 𝐃 ��⃗ and then 𝐄
�⃗ by
�⃗ outside the closed surface integral. This can be
getting 𝐃
executed by choosing Gaussian surface that satisfies the
following conditions, such that 𝐃��⃗ be independent of ds
variables.

Conditions for Gauss’s law:

1- The surface or volume contained charges must
has degree of symmetry.
2- �𝐃
�⃗ must be defined in the surface (𝐃
��⃗ ≠ ∞).
3- �𝐃
�⃗ must be uniform on the Gaussian surface
 4- The Gaussian surface must be identical to the
body contained the charge.

Note:

1- Gauss’s law is not used for all cases of charges, but it

can be used only for the cases where the chosen
Gaussian surface satisfy the previous conditions.
2- Gauss’s law is used for the following cases:
• Infinite line charges and coaxial charged cylinders
• Infinite charged sheet
• Concentric charged spheres

Example:
Find the electric flux density at a point p(𝒓𝒄 , 𝝋, 𝒛) due to an
infinite charged line of 𝝆𝒍 at z-axis.

Solution:
(1) ∯ 𝐃��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅

(2) Choice of Gaussian surface

(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝝆𝒍 𝑳

(4) ∯ �𝐃⃗ . ����⃗

𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃⃗ . ∫𝟎 ∫𝟎 𝒂
𝟐𝝅 𝑳
�𝒓𝒄 (𝒓𝒄 𝒅𝝋 𝒅𝒛) = 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝐃
z
(5) 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝐃 = 𝝆𝒍 𝑳 (rc,
+
+
+
𝝆𝒍
�⃗ = 𝒂
(6) 𝐃 � 𝒓𝒄 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐 +
+
𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 +
+
�⃗ = �𝐃⃗�𝜺 = 𝒂
(7) 𝐄 � 𝒓𝒄
𝝆𝒍 𝐍� + r
𝒐 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝜺𝒐 𝑪 +
+
L
+
+ y
+
+
+
Example:
Find �𝐃
�⃗ and 𝐄
�⃗ inside and outside a sphere of radius (a) and
surface charge density𝝆𝒔 .

Solution:

Region 1 𝐫𝐬 < 𝐚
(1) ∯ �𝐃 �⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅
(2) Choice of Gaussian surface
(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝟎
(4) ∯ �𝐃 �⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃 �⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝝅 𝒂�𝒓𝒔 �𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃
𝟎 𝟎
(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = 𝟎
(6) �𝐃 �⃗ = 𝒂 �𝒓𝒔 𝟎 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
(7) 𝐄�⃗ = �𝐃 �⃗�
𝜺𝒐 = 𝒂�𝒓𝒔 𝟎 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
Region 2 𝐫𝐬 > 𝑎
(1) ∯ �𝐃⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅
(2) Choice of Gaussian surface
(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝟒𝝅 𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔
(4) ∯ �𝐃⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃⃗ . ∫𝟎 ∫𝟎 𝒂
𝟐𝝅 𝝅
�𝒓𝒔 �𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃
(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = 𝟒𝝅 𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔
𝒂𝟐
� ⃗
(6) 𝐃 = 𝒂 �𝒓 𝟐 𝝆𝒔 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝒔 𝒓𝒔
�⃗ = �𝐃⃗�𝜺 = 𝒂
(7) 𝐄 � 𝒓𝒔
𝒂𝟐
𝝆𝒔 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝒐 𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝟐𝒔
 a

Rs
E
εΟ
rs

Example:
Find 𝐃��⃗ and 𝐄
�⃗ in all regions for a spherical shell of
radii a, b and volume charge density 𝝆𝒗

ρv
rs

Solution:
Region 1 𝐫𝐬 < 𝐚
(1) ∯ 𝐃��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅
(2) Choice of Gaussian surface
(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝟎
(4) ∯ 𝐃��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃�⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝝅 𝒂
� 𝒓 �𝒓 𝟐
𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓𝟐
𝒔𝐃
𝟎 𝟎 𝒔
(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = 𝟎
(6) �𝐃
�⃗ = 𝒂 �𝒓𝒔 𝟎 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
(7) 𝐄�⃗ = �𝐃⃗�𝜺 = 𝒂 �𝒓𝒔 𝟎 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝒐
Region 2 𝒂 < 𝐫𝐬 < 𝑏
�⃗ . ����⃗
(1) ∯ �𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅
(2) Choice of Gaussian surface
𝟒𝝅
(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝟑 (𝒓𝟑𝒔 − 𝒂𝟑 ) 𝝆𝒗
��⃗ . ����⃗
(4) ∯ 𝐃 �⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝝅 𝒂
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃 � �𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃
𝟎 𝟎 𝒓𝒔
𝟒𝝅
(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = (𝒓𝟑𝒔 − 𝒂𝟑 ) 𝝆𝒗
𝟑
(𝒓𝟑𝒔 −𝒂𝟑 )
(6) �𝐃⃗ = 𝒂
� 𝒓𝒔 𝝆𝒗 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝟑𝒓𝟐𝒔
�⃗ = �𝐃⃗�𝜺 = 𝒂
(7) 𝐄 �𝒓𝒔
(𝒓𝟑𝒔 −𝒂𝟑 )
𝝆𝒗 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝒐 𝟑𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝟐𝒔
Region 3 𝐫𝐬 > 𝑏

�⃗ . ����⃗
(1) ∯ �𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅

(2) Choice of Gaussian surface

𝟒𝝅
(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = (𝒃𝟑 − 𝒂𝟑 ) 𝝆𝒗
𝟑

��⃗ . ����⃗
(4) ∯ 𝐃 �⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝝅 𝒂
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃 � �𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃
𝟎 𝟎 𝒓𝒔

𝟒𝝅
(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = (𝒃𝟑 − 𝒂𝟑 ) 𝝆𝒗
𝟑
𝟑 𝟑
��⃗ = (𝒃 −𝒂 )
(6) 𝐃 � 𝒓𝒔
𝒂 𝟑𝒓𝟐𝒔
𝝆𝒗 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝟑 𝟑
�⃗ = �𝐃
(7) 𝐄
�⃗�
𝜺𝒐 = � 𝒓𝒔
𝒂
(𝒃 −𝒂 )
𝝆𝒗 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝟑𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝟐𝒔
Example:
In the figure shown, find the electric field intensity in
all regions.
b ρV
a

(I) (II) (III) L

Solution
Region 1 𝐫𝐜 < 𝐚

��⃗ . ����⃗
(1) ∯ 𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅

(2) Choice of Gaussian surface

(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝟎
��⃗ . ����⃗
(4) ∯ 𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃
�⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝑳 𝒂
�𝒓𝒄 (𝒓𝒄 𝒅𝝋 𝒅𝒛) = 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝐃
𝟎 𝟎

(5) 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝐃 = 𝟎

(6) �𝐃
�⃗ = 𝒂�𝒓𝒄 𝟎 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
(7) 𝐄 �⃗ = �𝐃
�⃗� � 𝒓𝒄 𝟎
𝜺𝒐 = 𝒂 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
Region 2 𝒂 < 𝐫𝐜 < 𝑏

��⃗ . ����⃗
(1) ∯ 𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅

(2) Choice of Gaussian surface

(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = �𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒄 − 𝝅𝒂𝟐 � 𝑳 𝝆𝒗

��⃗ . ����⃗
(4) ∯ 𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃
�⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝑳 𝒂
�𝒓𝒄 (𝒓𝒄 𝒅𝝋 𝒅𝒛) = 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝐃
𝟎 𝟎

(5) 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝐃 = �𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒄 − 𝝅𝒂𝟐 � 𝑳 𝝆𝒗

�𝒓𝟐𝒄 − 𝒂𝟐 �
(6) �𝐃
�⃗ = 𝒂
� 𝒓𝒄 𝝆𝒗 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝟐𝒓𝒄
�⃗ = �𝐃 �⃗� �𝒓𝒄 − 𝒂𝟐 �
𝟐
� 𝒓𝒄 −𝟏
(7) 𝐄 𝜺𝒐 = 𝒂 𝝆𝒗 𝑵 𝑪
𝟐𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝒄
Region 3 𝐫𝐜 > 𝑏
(1) ∯ 𝐃��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅

(2) Choice of Gaussian surface

(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = �𝝅𝒃𝟐 − 𝝅𝒂𝟐 � 𝑳 𝝆𝒗

��⃗ . ����⃗
(4) ∯ 𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃
�⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝑳 𝒂
�𝒓𝒄 (𝒓𝒄 𝒅𝝋 𝒅𝒛) = 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝐃
𝟎 𝟎

(5) 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝐃 = �𝝅𝒃𝟐 − 𝝅𝒂𝟐 � 𝑳 𝝆𝒗

�𝝅𝒃𝟐 − 𝝅𝒂𝟐 �
(6) �𝐃
⃗=𝒂
�𝒓𝒄 𝝆𝒗 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝟐𝒓𝒄
�⃗ = �𝐃⃗�𝜺 = 𝒂
(7) 𝐄 �𝒓𝒄
�𝝅𝒃𝟐 − 𝝅𝒂𝟐 �
𝝆𝒗 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝒐 𝟐𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝒄
Example:
Find the electric field intensity in all regions for the
following charge configurations:
- Point charge Q is located at the center.
- Conducting sphere of radius a and of charge ρs.
- A volume charge of ρv in a spherical shell of
radii b, c.

b
+ + II+
+ +a
IV + D(
+ +
Q +
+
+ +
+ +
Solution: +ρ +
s

Region 1 𝐫𝐬 < 𝐚 C

(1) ∯ 𝐃��⃗ . ����⃗

𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 ρv

(2) Choice of Gaussian surfa

(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝑸
(4) ∯ 𝐃��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃 �⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝝅 𝒂
� 𝒓 �𝒓 𝟐
𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓𝟐
𝒔𝐃
𝟎 𝟎 𝒔
(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = 𝑸
𝑸
�⃗ = 𝒂
(6) 𝐃 � 𝒓𝒔 𝟐 𝑪 𝒎 −𝟐
𝒔𝟒𝝅𝒓

(7) 𝐄�⃗ = �𝐃 �⃗�

𝜺𝒐 = 𝒂� 𝒓𝒔
𝑸
𝟐 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝒔
Region 2 𝒂 < 𝐫𝐬 < 𝑏
(1) ∯ 𝐃 ��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅
(2) Choice of Gaussian surface
(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝑸 + 𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔
(4) ∯ 𝐃 ��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃�⃗ . ∫𝟐𝝅 ∫𝝅 𝒂� 𝒓 �𝒓 𝟐
𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓 𝟐
𝒔𝐃
𝟎 𝟎 𝒔

(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = 𝑸 + 𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔

 𝑸+𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔
(6) �𝐃⃗ = 𝒂
� 𝒓𝒔 𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔

(7) �⃗ = �𝐃⃗�𝜺 = 𝒂
𝐄 �𝒓𝒔
𝑸+𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔
𝝆𝒗 𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝒐 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝟐𝒔
Region 3 𝐛 < 𝐫𝐬 < 𝑐

��⃗ . ����⃗
(1) ∯ 𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅
(2) Choice of Gaussian surface
𝟒𝝅 𝟑
(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝑸 + 𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔 + (𝒓𝟑𝒔 − 𝒂 ) 𝝆𝒗
𝟑
𝟐𝝅 𝝅
(4) ∯𝐃 ��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃 �⃗ . ∫ ∫ 𝒂 � 𝒓 �𝒓 𝟐
𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃
𝟎 𝟎 𝒔
𝟒𝝅 𝟑
(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = 𝑸 + 𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔 + (𝒓𝟑𝒔 − 𝒂 ) 𝝆𝒗
𝟑
𝟒𝝅
𝑸+𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔 + (𝒓𝟑𝒔 −𝒂𝟑 ) 𝝆𝒗
(6) �𝐃⃗ = 𝒂
� 𝒓𝒔
𝟑
𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔
𝑸+𝟒𝝅𝒂 𝟐 𝝆 +𝟒𝝅 (𝒓𝟑 −𝒂𝟑 ) 𝝆
(7) �⃗ = �𝐃
𝐄
�⃗�
𝜺𝒐 = �
𝒂 𝒓
𝒔 𝟑 𝒔 𝒗
𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝒔
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝟐𝒔
Region 4 𝐫𝐬 > 𝑐

��⃗ . ����⃗
(1) ∯ 𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅
(2) Choice of Gaussian surface
𝟒𝝅
(3) 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = 𝑸 + 𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔 + (𝒃𝟑 − 𝒂𝟑 ) 𝝆𝒗
𝟑
𝟐𝝅 𝝅
(4) ∯𝐃��⃗ . ����⃗
𝒅𝒔 = �𝐃
�⃗ . ∫ ∫ 𝒂 � 𝒓 �𝒓 𝟐
𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒅𝜽𝒅𝝋 � = 𝟒𝝅 𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃
𝟎 𝟎 𝒔
𝟒𝝅
(5) 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝐃 = 𝑸 + 𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔 + (𝒃𝟑 − 𝒂𝟑 ) 𝝆𝒗
𝟑
𝟒𝝅 𝟑
𝑸+𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔 + (𝒃𝟑 −𝒂 ) 𝝆𝒗
(6) �𝐃⃗ = 𝒂
�𝒓𝒔 𝟑
𝑪 𝒎−𝟐
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒔
𝟒𝝅 𝟑 𝟑
𝑸+𝟒𝝅𝒂𝟐 𝝆𝒔 + (𝒃 −𝒂 ) 𝝆𝒗
(7) �⃗ = �𝐃
𝐄
�⃗� � 𝒓𝒔
𝜺𝒐 = 𝒂
𝟑
𝑵 𝑪−𝟏
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝟐𝒔
Divergence

The divergence of �𝐃
⃗ equals the net flux of the vector �𝐃
�⃗ that
flows outwardly through a closed surface S per unit volume
(enclosed by ∯) as the volume goes to zero.

Divergence Law
∯ ����⃗
𝑫 . 𝒅𝒔����⃗
𝑫𝒊𝒗 �𝑫
�⃗ = 𝛁. �𝑫
�⃗ ≜ 𝒍𝒊𝒎∆𝒗→𝟎
∆𝒗

𝛁. �𝑫
�⃗ = 𝝆𝒗 [𝑪𝒎−𝟑 ]
The general form of the divergence can be written as

𝟏 𝝏 𝝏
𝛁. �𝑫
�⃗ = � (𝒉𝟐 𝒉𝟑 𝑫𝝁𝟏 ) + (𝒉 𝒉 𝑫 )
𝒉𝟏 𝒉𝟐 𝒉𝟑 𝝏𝝁𝟏 𝝏𝝁𝟐 𝟏 𝟑 𝝁𝟐
𝝏
+ (𝒉 𝒉 𝑫 )�
𝝏𝝁𝟑 𝟏 𝟐 𝝁𝟑

Where, 𝝁𝟏 , 𝝁𝟐 , 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝝁𝟑 are the variables of the coordinates

system, and 𝒉𝟏 , 𝒉𝟐 , 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝟑 are the factors multiplied by
the differentiable of the variables. So

For Cartesian coordinates

𝝏 𝝏 𝝏
𝛁. �𝑫
�⃗ = � 𝑫 + 𝑫 + 𝑫 �
𝝏𝒙 𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝒛
 For Cylinderical coordinates

𝟏 𝝏 𝝏 𝝏
𝛁. �𝑫
�⃗ =
� 𝒓 𝒄 𝑫 𝒓𝒄 + 𝑫𝝋 + 𝒓 𝑫 �
𝒓𝒄 𝝏𝒓𝒄 𝝏𝝋 𝝏𝒛 𝒄 𝒛
For Spherical coordinates

𝟏 𝝏 𝝏 𝝏
𝛁. �𝑫
�⃗ = � �𝒓𝟐
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 𝑫 � + (𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 𝑫 ) + �𝒓 𝑫 ��
𝒓𝟐𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 𝝏𝒓𝒔 𝒔 𝒓𝒔
𝝏𝜽 𝒔 𝜽
𝝏𝝋 𝒔 𝝋

Proof of Divergence Law

Let a cube enclosed at its center the point (xo,yo,zo) and the
electric field density 𝐷�⃗ crossing the cube surface at this
point and is giving by:

�⃗ = 𝒂
𝐷 �𝒙 𝑫𝒙𝒐 + 𝒂
�𝒚 𝑫𝒚𝒐 + 𝒂
� 𝒛 𝑫𝒛 𝒐

D(x) D(x+∆x)

dS b
∆x

In order to express ∯ 𝐷 ����⃗ for the cube, all six faces

���⃗ . 𝑑𝑠
must be taken, the direction of 𝑑𝑠 ����⃗ is outward since the
faces are normal to the three axes. Only one component of
���⃗
𝐷 will cross any two surface. Thus, It’s required to
find∯ 𝐷 ����⃗. We take at the first the surface in + x
���⃗ . 𝑑𝑠
direction and in – x direction.

∫ D ⋅ d S = (D Xo ( )
xˆ + DYo yˆ + D Zo zˆ ) ⋅ ∆y∆z Xˆ ↓ left + D(x + ∆x ) xˆ ⋅ ∆y∆z xˆ ↓ right

∂D
 D(x + ∆x ) = D(x O ) + ∆x + 
∂x
 ∂D 
∫ D ⋅ d S = − D ∆
Xo Y ∆ z +  o ∂x ∆x  ∆y∆z
∆ x ∗
 
∂D
∫ D ⋅ d S = ∂x Dx∆y∆z
∂D y
∫ D ⋅ d S ↓ backed , front =
∂y
Dx∆y∆z

∂D z
∫ D ⋅ d S ↓ top ,bottom =
∂z
D x ∆y∆z

 ∂D 
∫ D ⋅ d S = − D Xo ∆ Y ∆z + ∆xo ∗ ∂x ∆x ∆y∆z
∂D
∫ D ⋅ d S =
∂x
Dx∆y∆z

∂Dy
∫ D ⋅ d S ↓ backed , front =
∂y
Dx∆y∆z

∂Dz
∫ D ⋅ d S ↓top ,bottom = ∂z
Dx∆y∆z

 ∂D X ∂DY ∂D Z 
∫ D ⋅ d S = 
 ∂ x
+
∂y
+
∂z
∆x∆y∆z

 ∂D X ∂DY ∂D Z 
∴ ∫ D ⋅ d S =  + + ∆v = Q
 ∂x ∂y ∂z 
Q ∂D X ∂DY ∂D Z
∴ ρυ = = + + =∇⋅D
∆v ∂x ∂y ∂z
 Example:
A charged sphere of ρv and radius a, the electric flux
10 −5 rs
density D for rs < a is given by: D= rˆs ,
3
10 −5 a 3
and for rs > a is given by: D = 2 .
3rs
Find ρv in the previous two regions.

Solution:
∂ ∂ ∂ 
∇⋅D=
1
 (h h D ) + (h h D
1 3 θ ) + (h )
1 2 ϕ 
h D
 ∂rs ∂θ ∂φ
2 3 rs
h1 h2 h3 
where : h1 = 1, h2 = rs , h3 = rs sin θ
ρv = ?
for rs < a :
ρv = ?
1  ∂  rs 2 sin θ ⋅ 10 −5 rs  
ρv = ∇ ⋅ D = 2    + 0 + 0 a
 
rs sin θ  ∂rs  3  
10 −5
ρ v = ∇ ⋅ D = 2 ∗ 3rs 2 = 10 −5 C / m 3
3rs

for rs > a :
1  ∂  rs sin θ ⋅10 −5 a 3 
2
ρv = ∇ ⋅ D = 2    +0+0 = 0
∂
rs sin θ  s 
r 3rs
2

Divergence Theorem:

��⃗ . ����⃗
�𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = � 𝝆𝒗 𝒅𝒗

From divergence law,

𝛁. �𝑫
�⃗ = 𝝆𝒗 [𝑪𝒎−𝟑 ]
So

�𝐃 𝒅𝒔 = 𝑸𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 = � 𝝆𝒗 𝒅𝒗 = � ∇. ���⃗
��⃗ . ����⃗ 𝐷 𝒅𝒗

We can transfer the surface integral into a volume

integral. For the left-hand side to be equal the right
hand side of divergence theorem, the following
conditions must be fulfilled:

“���⃗
𝐷 Must be well behaved within the volume v and on
the surface”

Note:

Well behaved means that 𝐷 �⃗ and ∇. 𝐷

�⃗ are
continuous and defined (not infinite).
 Example:
10 x 3
Given D = 3 xˆ evaluate both sides of the divergence
theorem for the volume of cube 2m on edge centered at
the origin and with edges parallel to the axis.

Solution:
z

z
x

∫ D ⋅ d S = ∫ ∇ ⋅ D dv
L.H .S = ∫ D ⋅ dS
1 1 1 1
10 x 3 ˆ 10 x 3 ˆ
=∫∫ X ⋅ dydzX ↓ X =! + ∫ ∫
ˆ X ⋅ dydzXˆ ↓ X = −! +0 + 0
−1 −1
3 −1 −1
3
10(1)
3
40
= ⋅2⋅2= C
3 3
40 40 80
= + = C
3 3 3

R.H .S = ∫∇⋅ D dv
∂ 10 x 3 
∴∇ ⋅ D =   = 10 x
2

∂x  3 
1
1 1 1
 x3 
∴ ∫ ∇ ⋅ D dv = ∫ ∫ ∫ 10 x dxdydz = 10   ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2
2

−1 −1 −1  3  −1

=
10
[1 + 1]⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 = 80 C
3 3
 Example:
2
5r
Given D = s rˆs evaluate both sides of divergence
4
π
theorem for volume: r = 4m , θ = 4

z
Solution:

r = 4m
θ
θ= 45o
y

∫ D ⋅ d S = ∫ ∇ ⋅ D dv
L.H .S = ∫ D ⋅ d S
π
2π 4 2
5r
= ∫ ∫ s rˆs ⋅ rˆs rs sin θdθdφ ↓ rs = 4
2

0 0
4
π

5(4 ) 4 5(4 )
4 2π π
4
= ⋅ ∫ sin θdθ ⋅ ∫ dφ = (− cos θ )04
4 0 0
4
= 589.1 C
 ∂  2 4rs 
2
1
∇⋅D =  rs sin θ 
sin θ ∂
2
rs rs  4 
5
= ⋅ 4rs = 5rs
2
2
4rs
π
2π 4 4
RHS = ∫ ∇ ⋅ D dv = ∫ ∫ ∫ 5rs ⋅ r sin θdrs dθ dφ
2

0 0 0
4 π
=
5rs
(− cos θ )04 ⋅ 2π = 589.1C
4