ATTENDANCE QUIZ: SEC 22-1& 22-2

1. If all of the dimensions of

the box shown is increased
by a factor of 3, what effect
will this change have on the
electric flux through this
box?
A. Flux will be 9 times greater
B. Flux will be 3 times greater
C. Flux will be unchanged

2. What is the electric flux for

this configuration in terms
of E,A and ?
ATTENDANCE QUIZ: SEC 22-1& 22-2
1. If all of the dimensions of
the box shown is increased
by a factor of 3, what effect
will this change have on the
electric flux through this
box?
A. Flux will be 9 times greater
B. Flux will be 3 times greater
C. Flux will be unchanged

2. What is the electric flux for

this configuration in terms
of E,A and ?
 WARNING!
FALSE ACCUSATIONS DURING
DISCUSSION CLASS
 CHARGE & ELECTRIC FLUX Sec 22-1 & -2
& CALCULATING ELECTRIC FLUX
OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the electric flux through a surface

given the electric field
Relate the electric flux thru a closed surface to
the total charge inside & outside the surface
CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FLUX
Consider an imaginary closed surface, which may or
may not contain electric charge.

Determine how much

electric charge lies within
the box.
Measure force experienced by a test charge at
different positions, and map out the electric field
outside the box.
From details of the map,
we can determine the
exact value of the point
charge inside the box.
To determine the contents of the box, we just measure
the electric field on the surface of the box.
ELECTRIC FLUX
Like a flow of the electric field through an
imaginary surface.
scalar; SI unit: 1 Nm2/C
Three cases in which there is ZERO net charge inside a
box and ZERO net electric flux through the surface
The net electric flux due to a single point charge inside
the box is
INDEPENDENT of the size of the box
depends only on the net charge inside the box
Charge +q is enclosed with
twice the linear dimension of
figure a.

Magnitude of the electric field

decreases with 1/r2.
The average magnitude of the
electric field on EACH face of
the large box is 1/4 of that in
figure a.
BUT each face of the large
box has exactly 4 times the
area compared to figure a.
So far, we have the following observations:

1. Whether there is a net outward or inward electric flux through

a closed surface depends on the sign of the enclosed charge.
2. Charges outside the surface do not give a net electric flux
through the surface.
3. The net electric flux is directly proportional to the net amount
of charge enclosed within the surface but is otherwise
independent of the size of the closed surface.

QUALITATIVE STATEMENTS OF GAUSSS LAW

CALCULATING ELECTRIC FLUX
UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD
Convention:
direction of
outward

=
For a flat surface and uniform electric field

where : E E cos

Note: In general, there are 2 area vectors for a given surface. If not
explicitly given, you have the freedom to choose, but you have to stick
with your choice in all your calculations.
CALCULATING ELECTRIC FLUX
UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD

=
For a flat surface and uniform electric field

where : E E cos
CALCULATING ELECTRIC FLUX
UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD

=
For a flat surface and uniform electric field

where : E E cos
 FLUX: SOME OBSERVATIONS

1. Depends on the electric field

2. Depends on the surface area
3. Depends on the relative
orientation between the electric
field and the surface area where : E E cos
Calculating Electric Flux
Nonuniform Electric Field

General definition of the electric flux:

 What is the total electric flux?

1. If the area of the disk is parallel with the electric field?

2. If the area of the disk is perpendicular with the electric field?
INDEX CARD EXERCISE
OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the electric flux

through a surface given the
electric field
Relate the electric flux thru a
closed surface to the total
charge inside & outside the
surface

QUALITATIVE STATEMENTS OF GAUSSS LAW

1) ATTENDANCE QUIZ ON TUE, JAN 31:
22-3 GAUSSS LAW
22-4 APPLICATIONS OF GAUSSS LAW
2) 1ST PROBLEM SET: CHAPTER 21 OPENS
TODAY 6PM. DUE: THURSDAY FEB 2 9PM