Chapter 3

Introduction to Gauss’s Law:

• Gauss’s law provide us another way to calculate E.F. It offers simpler
way to calculate E.F in situations with a high degree of symmetry.
• We first need to define ‘Flux of Electric Field’ that is a mathematical
property of any field represented by vectors that is determined by
surface integral of the field vector over a particular area.
• Vector Area is ‘ normal to any flat surface’

Vector area is a vector quantity whose magnitude is equal to area of

surface element and direction is always along the outward drawn normal
to the center of surface element.
Flux means flow, derived from Latin word.
Flux is a measure of field lines passing through the loop/ surface
element.

Electric Flux:
“ The number of field lines passing through a certain area element
‘A’ called flux of Electric Field and represented by

Electric Flux is a scalar and units are.

It depends upon angle formed b/w Electric field vector and surface
area .
• For , will be maximum.
• For , will be minimum and for , gives –ve maximum value.
• Gauss’s Law deals with flux of a closed surface. If E.Field is not
uniform over the vector area, then we divide the whole surface into
large number of small elements. Then
• For closed surface,

By convention, outward flux is taken as +ve and inward flux is taken as –

ve.
The Electric field over a closed surface is
i. Zero, if surface encloses no charge.
ii. Positive and equal in magnitude to their strength, if surface
contains only +ve charges.
iii. Negative and equal in magnitude to their strength, if surface
contains only -ve charges.
iv. Zero, if surface contains equal no. of +ve and –ve charges.
Gauss’s Law:
The total Electric Flux through a closed surface is equal to times the
net charge enclosed by the closed surface.

Or

Or

Gauss’s law predicts that is zero for closed surfaces bcz surface
encloses no charge.
Gauss’s Law for a point charge enclosed
by a surface:
Consider a point charge ‘q’ inside a closed surface ‘s’ of any shape.
Divide the surface into large number of small patches such that surface
over each patch is practically flat.
Consider one patch of vector area at point P. Let be the position vector
of P w.r.t ‘O’ where charge ‘q’ lies. Then Electric Field at point P due to
charge ‘q’ is

Where is unit vector directed from O to P.

Then Electric Flux through is

Where is unit vector drawn outward normal to , then Electric Flux

through whole surface is

By substituting value of is
So,

Which is prove of Gauss’s Law.

Gauss’s Law and Coulomb’s Law:
• To deduce Coulomb’s law from Gauss’s law, let us apply Gauss’s Law
to an isolated positive charge q. Gauss’s Law holds for any surface. So,
we choose a spherical surface (Gaussian surface) of radius ‘r’
centered on charge.
• Electric field must be perpendicular to the surface. is the vector area
of the Gaussian surface. We divide the whole surface into large
number of small elements . So, the angle b/w and is zero
everywhere on the surface and has same magnitude everywhere on
surface. Both and at any point on the Gaussian surface are directed
radially outward. So, the quantity becomes simply EdA.
So, Gauss’s Law reduces to
So,

Which is the magnitude of E.Field at any point a distance r from an

isolated point q, which was obtained fro Coulomb’s Law.
Gauss’s Law regarded as most fundamental equation of
Electromagnetism.
Application of Gauss’s Law:
• Gauss’s law can be used to calculate if symmetry of charge
distribution is high.
Infinite line of Charge:
• Consider an infinite line (wire) of charge of constant positive linear
charge density λ where

We have to find E.F at a distance ‘r’ from the line . Electric field is radial
and is independent to the position along the wire and angular position
around the wire and only depends upon the distance ‘r’ from the line of
charge.
For this purpose, we imagine a Gaussian surface in the form of circular
cylinder of radius ‘r’ and length ‘h’, closed at each end by plane caps
normal to the axis.
The E . Flux over the whole surface of cylinder is

‘E’ is constant over the cylindrical surface and perpendicular to surface.

So,

There is no flux through the circular caps because here is parallel to the
surface at every point. So that everywhere on the caps.
Hence, the Gauss’s Law is

where
Which is required expression.
Infinite Sheet of Charge:
Consider a portion of a thin, non-conducting, infinite sheet of charge of
constant positive surface charge density where

The electric field produced perpendicular and away from the sheet. We
have to calculate E.F at points near the sheet.
Consider a Gaussian surface in the form of a closed cylinder of cross-
sectional area A passing normally through the sheet. Then
‘’ is normal to the ends caps and we have
So total flux is

So, Gauss’s Law gives

Or
Where

So,

In vector form,
Electric Field of a Spherical Shell of
charge:
Consider a thin
uniform charged
spherical shell of
radius R having a
constant charge
density . where

where
For Electric Fields, The Shell Theorems stated below;

1. A uniform Spherical shell of charge behaves (like a point charge), for

external points, as if all its charge were concentrated as its center.

2. A uniform Spherical shell of charge exerts no electrical force on a

charged particle inside the shell.

To prove these Shell Theorem, Suppose that shell is surrounded by two

concentric spherical Gaussian surface for which and for which .
From a symmetry argument, we conclude that the field can have only a
radial component (along the radius). If is the E.F on Gaussian surface ,
then total Electric flux through this surface is

Since has constant magnitude on and along radius.

By Gauss’s Law, then

For .
Which gives the magnitude of E.Field on all the points on Gaussian
surface having radius .
This shows that uniformly charged shell behave like a point charge for
all points outside the shell. This proves the 1st Shell Theorem.
Now apply Gauss’s Law for surface for which because Gaussian surface
encloses no charge.
Hence Gaussian surface encloses no charge and because has the same
value everywhere on surface. The Electric Field, therefore vanish inside
a uniform shell of charge; a test charge placed anywhere in the interior
would feel no electric force. This proves the second Shell Theorem.
These Shell Theorem apply only for uniformly charged shell. If charges
were sprayed on the surface in a non-uniform manner, such that charge
density varied over the surface, these Theorems would not apply.