Electric Flux& Gauss Law

Electric Flux
Electric flux is the measure of the ―number of
field lines passing through a surface S ‖

For uniform : E
Define: Electric Flux

ΦE E A Units: N•m /C2

S 
E
A is the surface
 area perpendicular
A to , so Φ=EAcos(θ) 
E
Notes:
3

1) is a scalar called electric flux

E
2) Units: N•m2/C

3) E represents the ―number of field lines through surface S.‖

4) For a closed surface, the area vector points

in the outward direction.

5) Flux is zero for a surface parallel to the field

(normal is at 90o to E)
Example: 
4 E 1000 N C

S2

S1 S3
30°

(rectangle, (rectangle, (hemisphere,

1m x 2m) 1m x 2m) radius 1m)

Find: flux through S1, S2, S3.

E
 Faraday‘s Experiment:
5

 From this experiment

ψ= Q------(1)
Now we can find surface
charge or flux density

D|r=a =
---for inner sphere.
Q
D|r=b = 4 b a2 r

---for outer sphere

 6

 D= Q
ar --for a<r<b;
2
4 r

now, the electric field at any point in free space

Q
E= 2
ar
4 0
r

hence for free space

є
D= 0 E
 Gauss‘s Law
7

 The Faraday‘s experiment leads to generalized

statement known as Gauss Law
“ The Electric flux passing through any closed surface
(known as Gaussian surface) is equal to total
charge enclosed by the surface.”
Mathematically:
∆ψ=flux crossing ∆S
= Ds ∆S cosθ= Ds. ∆S
 8

 the total flux passing through surface:

Ψ= d Ds.ds

the closed surface is known as Gaussian surface

Ψ=charge enclosed =Q
 9

  now we know that

D 0 E
  “The total electric flux through any closed surface
equals the net charge inside that surface divided by o”
q
E .ds
s 0

 This relates an electric field to the charge

distribution that creates it.
10
 Application of Gauss’s Law:
11

  By using gauss law we can determine Electric field

or Charge density.
  But the solution is easy if we are able to choose a
close surface, which satisfies two conditions :
1: Ds is everywhere either normal or tangential to
the closed surface, so that Ds.ds become either Dsds
or Zer0.
2: One portion of the closed surface for which Ds.ds is
not zero, Ds=constant
 12

  Note:
“ Gauss’s Law depends upon symmetry, so
that if we can not show symmetry exist then we can
not use Gauss law”

 For Example : Electric field due to line charge

distribution:
 Let a cylindrical closed surface around the charged line
having radius ‗r‘

 side

2/10/2014 By: Naveen kr Dubey/RKGITW/EC

Deptt. 13
 14

 Now apply gauss law

Q Ds.ds Ds ds 0. ds 0. ds
cyl side top bottom

Ds.2 rL
Q
Ds
2 rL
Ds Q
E
0 2 r 0L 2 0 r

By: Naveen kr Dubey/RKGITW/EC Deptt. 2/10/2014

 Exercise 4
Gauss
  Q L
E dA
0 0

Area of a cylinder 2 rL
L
E2 rL
0

E
2 r 0
2/10/2014 By: Naveen kr Dubey/RKGITW/EC
Deptt. 15
 Electric field due to Co-axial cable
16

 Let us consider a coaxial cable having inner radius a

and outer radius b. and the outer surface of inner
cylinder is Ps .
 Now we are interested to find field inside and out
side..
 Green surface:
r>b
Red Surface:
a<r<b
 17

Energy and
Potential
Energy Expended in Moving A Point Charge In
An Electric Field
18

 The Electric field intensity defined as---

“ The force on a unit test charge at that point at which
we wish to find the value of this vector field”
Now, if we attempt the test charge against the Electric
field, we have to exert a force equal and opposite to
that exerted by field. And this requires us to expend
energy or do work.

F applied Q FElectric
 19

  Now , suppose we wish to move a charge Q a

distance dL in Electric field E.

E
Q FE


F Q Eâ l
al = unit vector in dL direction
 20

The applied force:

Fapplied Q E .â l

The work done

dW=-QE.dL
Net work done:
final
W Q E.dL
initial
 How to perform line integral:
21

--To perform line integral choose a path , then break it

up into large number of very small segments,
-- multiply the component of the field along each
segment by the length of the segments
--and add the results for all the segments.
For example :
“Let an uniform Electric field for the simplicity and
break the path into segments as in figure”
22
 23
final
 Now for w Q E .d L
initial

Apply the method:

w Q ( E1 L1 E 2 L2 E 3 L3 E 4 L4 )

For Uniform field

E1=E2=E3=E4=E
 W QE( L1 L2 L3 L4)
W QE.LBA
 24

 Now if there are infinite number of elements the sum

can be converted as integral:
w QE. dL
 ---here dL called differential length
 *Note:
 dL= dx i +dy j + dz k-- for cartesian coordinates
 dL d â d â d z aˆz--- for cylindrical
 dL d aˆ rd â r sin d aˆ -- for spherical
r r
  Potential & Potential Difference:
25

 Potential at any point P can be defined as..

“Work done to bring the unit charge from infinity to
point P”
 Potential Difference:
26

 “Work done by external source in moving a positive

unit test charge from one point to another point (in
an electric field)”
 Work done:

B
E
W AB q E.dl
A B q A
Potential difference:
B

V AB E .d l
A
 27

  Or We Can say

VAB = VA-VB : Where VA—Potential at Point A

VB –Potential at point B

: UNIT - ―Joule/Coulomb‖ or Volt.

 28

 Potential difference for

1: In electric field due to line charge distribution.
2: In electric field due to point charge at radial points.
  Equi potential Surface
29

 Va+dl= Va + (dV/dL)dl
Let C1 constant rate of change in potential per unit
distance.,

Now, if Va+dl = Va
 dV/dL = 0  V= Constant
Hence Equipotntial surface can be defined as:
“Surface composed of all those points having the
same value of potential. No work is involve in
moving a unit test charge”
 Potential Gradient
30

  As we Know the relation

V E.dl
 But we can make this relation much easy using in
reverse order:i.e
V E. Lfor short length
 Now, we suppose a region in which a vector is
making angle θ with field direction:∆L=∆L aL
So we will get the relation:
V E LCos
31
 32

  Now we can convert this relationship in derivative

by applying limits:
dV
E cos
dL

 if we want to maximize this relationship the we

must move in opposite to electric field(Cosθ=-1)
dV
E
dL m ax
 Here we observed two characteristics of
relationship between
33
E&V:
1: The magnitude of the electric field intensity is given
by the maximum value of the rate of change of
potential with distance.

2: the maximum value is obtained when the direction

of distance increment is opposite to E.
Or we can say
“The direction of E is opposite to the direction in
which potential is increasing the most rapidly.”
 34

 Now , if we consider “Equipotential surface” then we

will get the relation:

∆V=-E.∆L=0

Here we know that neither E nor ∆L can be zero. So E

must be perpendicular direction of incremental
vector ∆L.
So electric field intensity can be expressed se…
dV
E â N
dL m ax
 35

  so E can be expressed as maximum rate of

change in voltage with distance and direction is
normal to Equipotential surface.
 So, here we conclude “(dV/dl)max occure when ∆L

is in the direction of a”
N

dV d V
 
dL m ax d N
dV ˆ
E a N
d N
 36

  The operation on V by which E is obtained is

known as gradient.

E=-grad V

 Proof:
Let V is an unique function of x,y,z and we take its
complete diffrential.
V V V
dV dx dy dz
x y z
 37

 But we have also

dV E.dL Ex dx E y dy Ez dz

  Comparing the both equations:

V
E x
x
V
E y
y
V
E z
z
 38

 then result may be combined as:

V ˆ V ˆ V ˆ
E ax ay az
x y z

  E gradV

V V V
gradV aˆx aˆy aˆz
x y z
 39

Gradient of V in other coordinate system:

V ˆ 1 V ˆ V ˆ
V a a a z Cylindrical
z

V ˆ 1 V ˆ 1 Vˆ
V a a a
r r r r sin Spherical
 Electric Dipole
 Electric dipole consists of a pair of point
charges with equal size but opposite sign
separated by a distance d.

d
+ -

2/10/2014 By: Naveen kr Dubey/RKGITW/EC

Deptt.
 Electric Dipole
 Electric dipole consists of a pair of point
charges with equal size but opposite sign
separated by a distance d.

d
+ -

p q d
2/10/2014 By: Naveen kr Dubey/RKGITW/EC
Deptt.
 Electric Dipole
 Electric dipole consists of a pair of point
charges with equal size but opposite sign
separated by a distance d.

d
+ -


p
2/10/2014 By: Naveen kr Dubey/RKGITW/EC
Deptt.
 Electric Dipole
 Water molecules are
electric dipoles

+ +

pwater
-

2/10/2014 By: Naveen kr Dubey/RKGITW/EC

Deptt.
potential due to electric dipole
44
 45

 Potential at point P
Q 1 1 Q R2 R1
V
4 0 R1 R2 4 0 R1R2

 R2-R1 may be approximated very easily if R1 and R2

are assumed to be parallel,
 R2-R1 = d cos θ
  The final result is then:
Qd cos
V 2
4 0
r
 N0w Electric field:
46

 By using gradient relationship for spherical

coordinates:
V ˆ 1 V ˆ 1 V ˆ
E V a a a
r
r r r sin

 So , we will get….
Qd cos Qd sin
E 3
â r 3
â
2 0r 4 0r
Qd
E 3
2 cos â r sin â
By: Naveen kr Dubey/RKGITW/EC Deptt.
4 0r 2/10/2014