GAUSS’S LAW

 Electric flux
• What is the associated charge in the region if
the electric field is known?
• What is electric flux?
 Gauss’s Law
• What is the relationship between the electric flux
through a closed surface to the charge enclosed
by the surface?
• How does GL simplify the calculation of electric
field?
 Charges on Conductors
• How are charges oriented in conductors under
electrostatic condition?
 GAUSS’S LAW

What is the electric field at a point in space due to a

source charge?

EA
A
rA
+Q

rB B

EB
 GAUSS’S LAW

Given the electric field, what can we say about the

charge in the region?

EA
A

EB
1. Electric Flux

 F
q0 E
q0

 
F  q0 E
E
?
 1 Qq0
F rˆ
4 0 r 2
Electric Flux

q0

 F
E
q0
E +Q  
F  q0 E

 1 Qq0
F rˆ
4 0 r 2
Electric Flux

E
-Q

The sign of the charge determines the direction of

electric field (inward or outward) that is passing
through a surface.
Electric Flux

E E

+Q +2Q

Electric flux is proportional to the net amount of

charge enclosed by the closed surface.
Electric flux is independent of the size of the
surface.
Electric Flux
Electric flux: amount of electric field passing through
a certain area.

 
 E  E A  E  EA cos  E  E  A
  general definition
 E   E cos dA   E  dA
of electric flux
f : angle between electric field and surface normal
Electric Flux
Electric flux (ΦE): amount of electric field passing
through a certain area.

ϕ = 0° 0° < ϕ < 90° ϕ = 90°

 E  EA >  E  EA cos  >  E  0

f : angle between electric field and surface normal

Electric Flux

ΔA1, ΔA2: tiny areas

Net flux in a closed surface

Gauss’s Law
Electric field at point r

1 Q
E
4 0 r 2
r
Electric flux +Q
r

 E  EA 
1 Q
4 0 r 2
4r 
2
 r S

Q
E 
0
Gauss’s Law

Electric flux
  Qenclosed
 E   E cos dA   E  dA 
0
ε0 = 8.85 X 10-12 C2 / (N-m2) r
+Q
r

r S

The total electric flux through a closed surface is

equal to the total (net) electric charge inside the
surface, divided by ε0.
Gauss’s Law

Two charges, equal in

magnitude but opposite in
sign, and the field lines that
represent their net electric
field. Four Gaussian surfaces
are shown in cross section.
Charges on Conductors

If an excess charge is placed on an isolated

conductor, that amount of charge will move entirely
to the surface of the conductor. None of the excess
charge will be found within the body of the conductor.

• Charges with the same sign will repel one another.

• Electric field inside the conductor must be zero.
• The net charge “inside” the conductor must be
zero.
Charges on Conductors

ΦE = 0

ΦE= 0

Spherical conductor (cross-sectional area)

without excess charge
Charges on Conductors

+qA
+
+ +

+ ΦE= 0 +
ΦE = qA / ε0 + +
+

Spherical conductor (cross-sectional area)

with excess charge
Charges on Conductors

+qA + +
+

+ ΦE= 0 +
+ +
+
ΦE = qA / ε0

Spherical conductor with cavity (cross-

sectional area) with excess charge
Charges on Conductors

+qA +
+ +

+ +qH +
+ +
+

Spherical conductor with cavity (cross-sectional

area) with excess charge and with excess charge
in the cavity
Charges on Conductors
+qA + qH
+ + +
+ +
+ Φ −E= −0 +
− −
+ +qH +
+ − − +
+ − − +
ΦE = (qA+qH) / ε0 + + +

Spherical conductor with cavity (cross-sectional

area) with excess charge and with excess charge
in the cavity
Charges on Conductors

+ E
σ +
+
+

+ E
+ 0
+
+
+
+
+
Solving Gauss’s Law Related Problems

Choose a surface that will satisfy at least one of the

following conditions:

• The value of the electric field is constant over the

portion of the surface.
• The dot product can be expressed as a simple
algebraic product E dA because E and dA are
parallel.
• The dot product is zero because E and dA are
perpendicular.
• The electric field is zero over the portion of the
surface.