ATTENDANCE QUIZ

1. Consider the given

Gaussian surfaces S1-S4.
Which surface has the largest
net electric flux through them?

2. Consider a charged infinite wire. Draw a Gaussian

surface that is useful in calculating the electric field in any
region due to the wire.
ATTENDANCE QUIZ

1. S2= +6/0
2. -coaxial cylindrical surface
with flat ends perpendicular to
symmetry axis
GAUSS LAW Sec 22-3
OBJECTIVE

Use Gausss law to calculate the electric flux

through a surface
GAUSSS LAW

alternative tool to Coulombs law

uses symmetry to simplify electric
field calculations
Enclose charge with imaginary surface called a
Gaussian surface

Look at electric field at various points on that surface

A POINT CHARGE SPHERICAL SURFACE
1 q
E
4 0 R2
Asphere 4 R 2

Let
q
R: radius of the imaginary sphere E
0
A POINT CHARGE NONSPHERICAL SURFACE
Sphere of radius R, then
surround with
nonspherical surface
Consider: Area element
dA on irregular surface
Note: larger than
corresponding element on
spherical surface at same
distance from q
 A POINT CHARGE NONSPHERICAL SURFACE
:angle between outward normal
to dA and radial line from q
(direction of )

Electric flux through spherical

surface element is equal to flux
cos through corresponding
irregular surface element
A POINT CHARGE NONSPHERICAL SURFACE

Holds for a surface of any shape or size, as long as

it is closed enclosing charge q.
A POINT CHARGE OUTSIDE IMAGINARY SURFACE

r r
E E ndA
0
Suppose the surface encloses not just one point charge q but several
point charges.
Total electric flux: depends on the electric fields of the individual
charges & the total charge enclosed by the surface.

GENERAL FORM OF GAUSSS LAW

 VARIOUS FORMS OF GAUSSS LAW

Relates the electric flux through a closed (imaginary) surface with the
net enclosed charge.
 0 1800
At every point on the surface the electric At every point on the surface the electric field points
field is in the same direction as dA, so: into the surface opposite the direction of dA, so:

q q
E E
0 0
INDEX CARD EXERCISE
The total electric flux in a certain irregular shaped
closed surface is zero. Which of the ff statements
is/are always true?
I. The closed surface is too small.
II. There are no charges inside the closed surface.
III. The net charge inside the closed surface is zero.

A. I only B. II only C. III only D. I, II and III

The total electric flux in a certain irregular shaped
closed surface is zero. Which of the ff statements
is/are always true?
I. The closed surface is too small.
II. There are no charges inside the closed surface.
III. The net charge inside the closed surface is zero.

A. I only B. II only C. III only D. I, II and III

OBJECTIVE
Use Gausss law to calculate the electric flux
through a surface
APPLICATIONS OF GAUSS LAW Sec 22-4
OBJECTIVES

Use Gausss law to calculate the electric field

generated at a point by highly symmetrical
charge distributions
ELECTRIC FIELD INSIDE A SOLID
CONDUCTOR
If there is an electric field inside a conductor, there will
be a net force on the free charges causing the charges
to move.
But in ELECTROSTATICS: charges have no net motion

In electrostatics, electric field inside a

solid conductor must be zero.
 ELECTRIC FIELD INSIDE A SOLID
CONDUCTOR
Consider conductor in
region with external electric
field.
External field drives free +
charges to same direction
as field, and charges to
opposite direction as field.

Result: zero field inside conductor

ATTENDANCE QUIZ COVERAGE (WED, FEB 1)
SEC 22-4 APPLICATIONS OF GAUSS LAW SEATWORK