Lecture 3

Indriana Hidayah
Hanung Adi Nugroho

o E dS = q

Calculating Electric Fields

Coulomb's Law
Force between two point charges
Can also be used to calculate E fields

OR
Gauss' Law
Relationship between Electric Fields
and charges
Uses the concept of Electric flux

Lecture 3

Electric Dipole
Lines of Force
Consider imaginary
spheres centered
on :
a) +q (green)
c
b) -q

(red)

c) midpoint (yellow)
All lines leave a)
All lines enter b)

Equal amounts of
leaving and entering
lines for c)

Electric Flux
Flux:
Lets quantify previous discussion about fieldline counting
Define: electric flux through the closed
surface S
E E dS
What does this new quantity mean?
The integral is an integral over a CLOSED SURFACE
The result (the net electric flux) is a SCALAR quantity
dS is normal to the surface and points OUT
E dS uses the component of E which is NORMAL to the SURFACE
Therefore, the electric flux through a closed surface is the sum
of the normal components of the electric field all over the
surface.
Pay attention to the direction of the normal component as it
penetrates the surfaceis it out of or into the surface?
Out of is + Into is -

Lecture 3

Imagine a cube of side a positioned in a

region of constant electric field, strength E,
as shown.
Which of the following statements about
the net electric flux E through the
surface of this cube is true?

(a) E = 0

(b) E = 2Ea2 (c) E = 6Ea2

Gauss' Law
Gauss' Law (a FUNDAMENTAL Law):
The net electric flux through any closed surface
is proportional to the charge enclosed by that
surface.

0 E dS = 0 = qenclosed

How to Apply??
The above eqn is TRUE always, but it doesnt look easy to use
It is very useful in finding E when the physical situation exhibits
massive SYMMETRY
To solve the above eqn for E, you have to be able to CHOOSE a
closed surface such that the integral is TRIVIAL
Direction: surface must be chosen such that E is known to be
either parallel or perpendicular to each piece of the surface
Magnitude: surface must be chosen such that E has the same
value at all points on the surface when E is perpendicular to
the surface.
Therefore: that allows you to bring E outside of the integral

Lecture 3

Geometry and Surface Integrals

If E is constant over a surface, and normal to it everywhere,
we can take E outside the integral, leaving only a surface area

E dS = E dS
z
c

dS = 2ac + 2bc + 2ab

R
R

dS = 4R

dS = 2R2 + 2RL

Gauss Coulomb
We now illustrate this for the field of
the point charge and prove that Gauss
Law implies Coulombs Law.
Symmetry E field of point charge is radial
and spherically symmetric
Draw a sphere of radius R centered on the charge.

E
R
+Q

Why?
E normal to every point on surface
E dS = EdS
E has same value at every point on surface
can take E outside of the integral!

E dS = EdS = E dS = 4R2 E !
2
Gauss' Law 0 4R E = Q

Therefore,

We are free to choose the surface in such

problemswe call this a Gaussian surface

E=

1 Q
4 0 R2

Lecture 3

Infinite Line of Charge

Symmetry E field
must be to line and
can only depend on
distance from line

Er
Er

Therefore, CHOOSE
+ + +++++++ + +++++++++++++ + + + + + +
Gaussian surface to be a
x
cylinder of radius r and length
h aligned with the x-axis.
h

Apply Gauss' Law:

On the ends, E dS = 0
On the barrel,

E dS = 2rhE

AND q = h

E=

2 0 r

Infinite sheet of charge

+

Symmetry:
direction of E = x-axis
Therefore, CHOOSE Gaussian
surface to be a cylinder whose
axis is aligned with the x-axis.

Apply Gauss' Law:

x
E

On the barrel, E dS = 0
On the ends, E dS = 2 AE
The charge enclosed = A
Therefore, Gauss Law

0 (2EA ) = A

E=

Conclusion: An infinite plane sheet of charge creates a

CONSTANT electric field .

2 0

Lecture 3

Two Infinite Sheets

(into screen)

Field outside the sheets must

be zero. Two ways to see:

+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
A+
+
+

Superposition
Gaussian surface
encloses zero charge
Field inside sheets is NOT zero:
Superposition
Gaussian surface
encloses non-zero chg
Q = A

E dS = AEoutside + AEinside

E=0
-

E=0

E=

Uniform charged sphere

What is the magnitude of the
electric field due to a solid
sphere of radius a with uniform
charge density (C/m3)?
Outside sphere: (r > a)
We have spherical symmetry centered on the
center of the sphere of charge
Therefore, choose Gaussian surface = sphere of
radius r

Lecture 3

Gauss Law: Help for the Problems

How to do practically all of the homework problems

Gauss Law is ALWAYS VALID!!

o E dS = q

What Can You Do With This??

If you have (a) spherical, (b) cylindrical, or (c) planar symmetry
AND:
If you know the charge you can calculate the electric field

If you know the field (usually because E=0 inside conductor),

you can calculate the charge.

Application of Gauss Law:

Spherical Symmetry: Gaussian surface = Sphere of radius r
2
o E dS = 40 r E

E=

q = ALL charge inside radius r

1 q
4 0 r 2

Cylindrical Symmetry: Gaussian surface = Cylinder of radius r

o E dS = 0 2rLE

E=

q = ALL charge inside radius r, length L

2 0 r

Planar Symmetry: Gaussian surface = Cylinder of area A

o E dS = 0 2AE

E=

q = ALL charge inside cylinder=A

2 0

Lecture 3

Insulators vs. Conductors

Insulators wood, rubber, styrofoam, most
ceramics, etc.
Conductors copper, gold, exotic ceramics, etc.
Sometimes just called metals
Insulators charges cannot move.
Will usually be evenly spread
throughout object
Conductors charges free to move.
on isolated conductors all charges
move to surface.

Conductors vs. Insulators

++++++

- -

++++++

-+

-+

-+

-+

-+

-+

-+

-+

-+

-+
-+

-+

+
+
+
+

-+

- -

-+

++++++

-+

+ + - +

-+

++++++

+
-

Lecture 3

Conductors vs. Insulators

- Ein = 0
-

+
+
+
+
+
+
+

-+
-+

+
+
+
+
+
+

-+

+
+
+
+
+
+
+

-+

+
-

-+

- +
+ +
+
+
- + - +
- +
+ -

-+

+
+
+
+
+
+
+

-+

+
+
+
+
+
+
+

-+

-+

-+

E
-+ -+
Ein < E
-+ -+
-+

-+

Conductors & Insulators

Consider how charge is carried on macroscopic objects.
We will make the simplifying assumption that there are only two kinds
of objects in the world:
Insulators.. In these materials, once they are charged, the charges
ARE NOT FREE TO MOVE. Plastics, glass, and other bad
conductors of electricity are good examples of insulators.
Conductors.. In these materials, the charges ARE FREE TO MOVE.
Metals are good examples of conductors.

How do the charges move in a

conductor??
Hollow conducting sphere
Charge the inside, all of
this charge moves to the
outside.

Lecture 3

Charges on a Conductor
Why do the charges always move to the surface of
a conductor ?
Gauss Law tells us!!
E = 0 inside a conductor when in equilibrium (electrostatics) !
Why?
If E 0, then charges would have forces on them and
they would move !

Therefore from Gauss' Law, the charge on a

conductor must only reside on the surface(s) !
+
+
+
++++++++++++
+
+
+

++++++++++++
Infinite conducting
plane

+
+
Conducting
sphere

Consider the following two topologies:

A) A solid non-conducting sphere

carries charge Q = -3 C , and
is surrounded by an uncharged
conducting spherical shell.

-Q
E

B) Same as (A) but conducting

shell removed.
Compare the electric field at point X in cases A and B:

(a) EA < EB

(b) EA = EB

10

(c) EA > EB

Lecture 3

Consider the following two topologies:

A) A solid non-conducting sphere

carries charge Q = -3 C , and
is surrounded by an uncharged
conducting spherical shell.

-Q
E

B) Same as (A) but conducting

shell removed.
What is the surface charge density 1 on the inner surface of
the conducting shell in case B?

(a) 1 < 0

(b) 1 = 0

(c) 1 > 0

Hollow conductors

11