Flux of the Electric Field

Collaborate

question

Consider the six point charges and the Gaussian surface shown below.
(a) Which of these charges contribute to the net electric flux through the Gaussian surface?
(b) Which of these charges contribute to the electric field at the point P?

Consider 5 surfaces, S1 through S5, as shown below. Each red plus sign represents +1 coulomb of charge; each blue negative sign represents -1 C of charge.
1. What is the net flux through S1? Through S4?
2. Surface S6 contains both S2 and S3. What is the net flux through S6?
3. What is the net flux through S5?

five surfaces

A Gaussian surface consists of a hemisphere of radius R and its base, as shown. It is placed in a region of a uniform electric field, which is directed perpendicular to the circular base.
(a) What is the electric flux through the circular base?
(b) What is the electric flux through the hemisphere?

How would you calculate the flux through just the hemispherical surface in the above problem without using Gauss' Law?
(No answer provided.)

A cube of side length 3 m is placed in a nonuniform electric field so that its back corner is at the origin, as shown below. If the electric field is given by , what is the net flux through the cube? Does the cube enclose a net positive charge, a net negative charge, or zero net charge?

five surfaces

Once you've finished here, go on to learn about Gauss's Law for a single point charge.


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