Electric Field Calculation from Gauss Law (Part-II)

Applications of Gauss theorem

(1) Electric field due to infinite line charge having uniformly distributed
charge of charge density λ
𝝀
 Electric Field Calculation from Gauss Law (Part-II)

Applications of Gauss theorem

(1) Electric field due to infinite line charge having uniformly distributed
charge of charge density λ
𝝀 𝒅𝒔
Gaussian
surface 𝑬
𝟏

r
L
𝟑 𝒅𝒔

𝟐
𝑬
𝒅𝒔
 𝝀 𝒅𝒔
Gaussian
surface 𝑬
𝟏

r
L
𝟑 𝒅𝒔

𝟐
𝐄 𝑬
𝒅𝒔

𝐫
(2) Electric field due to infinite
uniformly charged hollow cylindrical
pipe/cylindrical shell (surface
charge density 𝝈 and radius R): R
𝝈
Gaussian + +
surface 𝟏 + +
+ +
+ +
+ + 𝑳
𝟑
+ +
+ +

𝟐+ +
+ +
 R
𝝈
+ +
+ +

Gaussian + +
𝒓
surface + 𝟏 +
+ 𝑳 𝟑 +
+ +
𝟐
+ +
+ +
+ +
2. For Infinite Uniformly Charged Cylindrical shell / Hollow cylinder

𝜎𝑅
𝐸𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐸in = 0
𝑟𝜀0

𝐫
 R

Gaussian + +
surface 𝟏 + +
+ +
+ +
+ + 𝑳
𝟑
+ +
+ +

𝟐 + +
+ +
(b) EF at the point inside the Solid cylinder (For r < R)
R

Gaussian surface
+ 𝟏 +
+ 𝒓 +
𝟑 𝑳
+ +
+ 𝟐 +
+ +
3. For Infinite Uniformly Charged Solid Cylinder

𝝆 𝑹𝟐 𝝆𝒓
𝑬𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝑬𝒊𝒏 =
𝟐𝒓𝜺𝟎 𝟐𝜺𝟎

𝐫
𝐑
 Example

A non-conducting solid sphere has volume charge density that varies

𝒓
as 𝝆 = 𝝆𝟎 , where r0 is a constant and r is distance from centre. Find
𝑹
out electric field intensities at following positions .

(i) r < R (ii) r ≥ R

 P

dx
Electric Field in a cavity
Electric field intensity due to uniformly charged infinite sheet

(a) Front view (b) Side view


Gaussian surface

+
+++++
+++++ +
+++++
+++++ +
+++++
+++++ +
+++++
+++++
+++++ +
+++++
+++++ +
+
+
+
+
+
Electric field due to infinite non conducting sheet is uniform
 −
+ -
+ -
+ -
+  -
+ (−)
𝑬= ෝ
𝒏 - 𝑬= ෝ
𝒏
+ 𝟐𝝐𝟎 𝟐𝝐𝟎
-
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
Variation of E with r 𝐸


𝑬=
𝟐𝝐𝟎

𝒓
Electric field intensity due to uniformly charged thick infinite
conducting Plate

Gaussian
surface
Gaussian
surface
Electrostatic/Electric potential energy

fix
q1 q2
Electrostatic potential energy of system of two point charges
Electric potential energy of system having more than two charges

For a system having more then two charged particle, potential energy
(electric) is equal to the algebraic summation of potential energy of each
pair of charge present in the system.

𝒒𝟑
𝒌𝒒𝟏𝒒𝟐 𝒌𝒒𝟐𝒒𝟑 𝒌𝒒𝟑𝒒𝟏
𝑼= 𝒓𝟏𝟐
+ 𝒓𝟐𝟑
+ 𝒓𝟑𝟏
𝒓𝟑𝟏
𝒓𝟐𝟑

𝒒𝟏 𝒓𝟏𝟐 𝒒𝟐
Few points regarding above expression:

(i) In this express, electrostatic potential energy of system is taken as

zero, when distance between each two pair of charge of system is
infinite.

(ii) Value of charges (qi & qj) should be kept with sign.
 Example

Find PE of system.

4𝝁𝑪 𝒓 = 𝟏𝟖𝒄𝒎 –3𝝁𝑪

Solution

Ans : 𝑼 = −𝟎. 𝟔𝑱
 Example 𝒓
q4 q3
Find PE of given system.
𝒓 𝒓

q1 q2
𝒓

𝒌𝒒𝟐
Ans : 𝑼𝒔 = (𝟒 + 𝟐)
𝒓
 Example q
q
Find PE of given system. q
q

𝒓 q
q
𝒓
q q
 𝒌𝒒𝟐 𝒌𝒒𝟐 𝒌𝒒𝟐
Ans : 𝑼𝒔 = 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐 +𝟒
𝒓 𝟐𝒓 𝟑𝒓
 Example
Consider the configuration of a system of four charges each of value +q.
Find the work done by external agent in changing the configuration of
the system from figure (i) to fig (ii).

+q +q +q

a
a
+q +q

+q +q
+q
a
Fig. (i) Fig. (ii)
 Kq2
Ans. 3− 2
a