ELECTRIC FLUX

RECAP of XIth concept

Consider flow of a liquid with velocity v, through a small flat
surface dS, in a direction normal to the surface.

The rate of flow of liquid through a small flat surface dS in a

direction normal to the surface is defined as:
The volume of the liquid crossing a given area per unit time
v dS (taken as the flux of liquid flowing across the plane).

If the normal (perpendicular drawn to the surface) is not

parallel to the direction of flow of liquid, i.e., to v, but makes
an angle θ with it, then, the projected area in a plane
perpendicular to v is v dS cos θ .

Therefore, the flux going out of the surface dS is v ( n dS )

 ELECTRIC FLUX

Electric flux is the measure of the electric

field through a given surface.

It is a way of describing the electric field

strength at any distance from the charge
causing the field
The number of electric field lines crossing a
unit area, placed normal to the field at a
point is a measure of the strength of electric
field at that point.
• If we place a small planar element of area
∆S normal to E at a point, the number of field
lines crossing it is proportional to E ∆S.
 Now suppose the area element is tilted by an angle θ. The
number of electric field lines crossing the area element will be
smaller.
 The projection of the area element normal to E is ∆S cos θ .
Hence,
the number of electric field lines crossing ∆S is proportional to
E ∆S cos θ and is called electric flux ФE
Electric flux in different cases
Electric flux is defined as the number of electric
field lines crossing normally a given area.

ФE = E dS Cosθ
ˆ

ФE = E.dS

(OR) ФE = E.A
Its S.I unit is N C –1 m2 or V-m
It is a scalar quantity.
Gauss’s Law
Gauss’s Law states that the net electric flux through a cosed surface
is = 1/ ε0 times the charge enclosed in it.
Mathematically Gauss’s Law is expressed as :

where Φ is the net electric flux and q is the charge enclosed in it.
Since ФE = ∮E.ds

∮ E.ds = ​q 
∈0
It can also be stated as : The net electric field strength over a closed
hypothetical surface called Gaussian surface is 1/ ε0 times the
charge enclosed by the surface.
Mathematically , ФE = ∮ E.ds = ​q 
∈0
The law implies that the total electric flux through a closed surface is zero if no
charge is enclosed by the surface.
PROOF FOR GAUSS’S LAW
DEDUCTION OF COULOMB’S LAW
FROM GAUSS’S LAW
 Important points regarding Gauss’s law are:
(i) Gauss’s law is true for any closed surface, no matter what its shape or size.
(ii) The term q on the right side of Gauss’s law, includes the sum of all charges
enclosed by the surface. The charges may be located anywhere inside the
surface.
(iii) In the situation when the surface is so chosen that there are some charges
inside and some outside, the electric field [whose flux appears on the left
side of Gauss’s equation] is due to all the charges, both inside and outside
S. The term q on the right side of Gauss’s law, however, represents only
the total charge inside S.
(iv) The surface that is chosen for the application of Gauss’s law is called the
Gaussian surface. Any Gaussian surface can be chosen to apply Gauss’s
law. However, care should be taken to not let the Gaussian surface pass
through any discrete charge. This is because electric field due to a system
of discrete charges is not well defined at the location of any charge.
However, the Gaussian surface can pass through a continuous charge
distribution.
(v) Gauss’s law is often useful towards a much easier calculation of the
electrostatic field when the system has some symmetry. This is facilitated
by the choice of a suitable Gaussian surface.
(vi) Gauss’s law is based on the inverse square dependence on distance
contained in the Coulomb’s law. Any violation of Gauss’s law will indicate
departure from the inverse square law.
APPLICATIONS OF
GAUSS’S LAW
To find Electric Field strength at a point due to
an infinitely long straight uniformly charged
wire

E is directed outward if ‘ λ’ is positive and

inward if ‘λ’ is negative.
 To find Electric Field strength at a point due to a
uniformly charged infinite plane sheet

1 3
2

y
E

σ
2ε0

0 r x
To find Electric Field strength due to a uniformly charged
thin spherical shell at a point lying outside the shell

Conclusion: For points outside the shell, the field due to a uniformly charged shell is as if the
entire charge of the shell is concentrated at its centre. E α 1/r
 To find Electric Field strength due to a uniformly
charged thin spherical shell at a point lying inside the
shell

Conclusion: The electric field due to a uniformly charged thin shell is zero at all points inside the shell
Variation Of E with r for a uniformly
charged thin spherical shell
 END OF
CHAPTER 1