CHAPTER 23

Gauss’ law
Term 2023-1
1- The electric flux and Gauss’ law

2- Gauss’ law: Planar symmetry

3- Gauss’ law: Cylindrical symmetry

4- Gauss’ law: Spherical symmetry

 The electric flux 𝑑𝐴Ԧ
𝐸
The flux means the product of an area and a vector field 3
across that area. The electric flux is given by 1 2
𝑑 𝐴Ԧ
𝜙 = න𝐸 . 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = න𝐸𝑑𝐴 cos 𝜃 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ

Where 𝑑𝐴Ԧ is a vector whose magnitude equals to the

differential area and direction is normal to the plane of the area Gaussian
𝐸
surface
The two figures show two surfaces immersed in
electric fields. Using the above equation, the electric
flux at three deferent differential areas, are
𝐸 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ 𝐸
1-   0 since  180 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ
1
2-  = 0 since  = 90 3
2 𝑑𝐴Ԧ
3-   0 since   90
 Gauss’ law

Gauss’ law states that the flux of the electric field

Gaussian
through a closed surface equals the net charge enclosed
surface
by the surface divide by 0. It is written as follow q
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐
𝜙 = ර 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀0

The net flux of an electric field through a cubical Gaussian surface is written as
1 1 1 1 1 1
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐
𝜙 = න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀0
1 2 3 4 5 6

  qenc  
Gauss’ law can  =  E.dA =  =  E.dA
be written in 0
  qenc qenc
these forms
 E.dA = =
0 0
The figure shows two charges of equal magnitudes but opposite in
sign and four Gaussian surfaces S1, S2, S3 and S4 s1

S1 is positive since E is outward for all points on this surface

s3 s4
S2 is negative since E is inward for all points on this surface
S3 is zero since the surface encloses no charge
S4 is zero since the net charge enclosed by the surface is zero s2
 Example: The figure shows two Gaussian surfaces S1 and S2 and q4
five charges q1 = q4 = 3.1 nC; q2 = q5 = - 5.9 nC; and q3 = -3.1
q1
nC. Find the net electric flux through each surface S2
qenc q1 + q2 + q3 N .m 2 S1 q3
Solution  S1 = = = −666.7
0 0 C q2
q5
S2 = 0/0 = 0

Example: Find the electric flux through the cylindrical Gaussian

surface that immersed in the electric field shown in the figure 
dA
Solution
       

 =  E.dA =  E.dA +  E.dA +  E.dA 
a b c dA
a b c dA
𝜑 = න 𝐸𝑑𝐴 cos 1 80 + න 𝐸𝑑𝐴 cos 9 0 + න 𝐸𝑑𝐴 cos 0 
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
E
𝜙 = −𝐸𝐴 + 0 + 𝐸𝐴 = 0
 
Example: (a) Find the electric flux through the right, left and top y dA
faces of the cubical Gaussian surface, where the nonuniform
electric field through the cube is 𝐸 = 3𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 4𝑗Ƹ  
dA
dA Gaussian
(b) Find the net charge enclosed by the Gaussian cube x
surface
 
Solution:  R =  E.dA =  (3 xiˆ + 4 ˆj ).( dAiˆ) 1m 2m
(a) z
= 3 x  dA = 3  3  4 = 36 N .m / C 2

𝜑𝐿 = න 3𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 4𝑗Ƹ . −𝑑𝐴𝑖Ƹ = −12 𝑁. 𝑚2 /𝐶 𝜑 𝑇 = න 3𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 4𝑗Ƹ . 𝑑𝐴𝑗Ƹ = 16 𝑁. 𝑚2 /𝐶

(b) The electric flux (in SI units) through the Bottom, Front and the back faces are

𝜑𝐵𝑜 = න 𝐸 . −𝑑𝐴𝑗Ƹ = −16 𝜑𝐹𝑟 = න 𝐸 . 𝑑𝐴𝑘෠ = 0 𝜑𝐵𝑎 = න 𝐸 . −𝑑𝐴𝑘෠ = 0

Using Gauss's law (  = qenc / 0 ), the net charge enclosed by the cube is

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 𝜀0 𝜑𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑒 = 𝜀0 × 𝜑𝑅 + 𝜑𝐿 + 𝜑 𝑇 + 𝜑𝐵𝑜 + 𝜑𝐹𝑟 + 𝜑𝐵𝑎 = 0.21 𝑛𝐶

 A charge conductor A charged insulator

1. The excess charges distribute 1. The excess charge is fixed in

itself on the surface place and do not move

2- E = 0 inside the 2- E ≠ 0 inside the insulator

conductor
 2- Gauss’ law; planar symmetry

Example: Find The electric field due to an infinite (or large) charged conducting sheet

Solution: To determine the electric field using Gauss’ law, follow the following steps
Cross-section
First step: Locate of the point at which the electric field is required
of the sheet
Second step: Draw the direction of the field at that point ++
a c
Third step: Draw Gaussian surface (When you draw the surface, + +b . 𝐸
be sure that part a of the surface be inside the sheet and part c be
++ Gauss’
outside the sheet. Also be sure that the point must be located on
the Gaussian surface as shown in the figure) surface

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐
Fourth step: Apply Gauss’s Law ර𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀0
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐
ර𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = 0 + 0 + 𝐸𝐴 = → E = (qenc)/(0 A) → 𝐸 = 𝜎/𝜀0 Where 𝜎 = qenc/A
𝜀0
 Gauss’ law; planar symmetry
Cross-section
The electric field due to an infinite charged nonconducting sheet of the sheet
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐 +
ර𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀0
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 a+ b .c
𝐸 𝐸
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐 +
ර𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = E𝐴 + 0 + 𝐸𝐴 =
𝜀0 Gauss’
surface
E = (qenc)/(20 A) → 𝐸 = 𝜎/2𝜀0

Similarly, E just outside a conducting object is 𝐸 = 𝜎/𝜀0

+ -
+ -
+ -
Similarly, E due to two parallel conducting plates of -
𝐸 = 𝜎/𝜀0 +
equal but opposite charge densities of magnitude  + -
+ -
Example: Two large parallel non-conducting sheets have 1 = 6.8 C/m2 and
2 = - 4.3 C/m2. Find E to the left, between and to the right of the plates

+ -
+ 1 2 E2 E1 y
E1
. E2
+
E1
. E2 - . x
+ -
+
+ -

The electric field at any point is given by 𝐸 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2

𝐸𝐿 = 𝐸2 − 𝐸1 = 𝜎22𝜀−𝜎1 = −1.4 × 105 𝑁Τ𝐶

0

𝐸𝑅 = 𝐸1 − 𝐸2 = 𝜎12𝜀−𝜎2 = 1.4 × 105 𝑁Τ𝐶

0

𝐸𝐵 = 𝐸2 + 𝐸1 = 𝜎22𝜀+𝜎1 = 6.3 × 105 𝑁Τ𝐶

0
 3- Gauss’ law; Cylindrical symmetry

E at the point p, a distance r from of an infinite rod of uniform charge density 

Imagine a cylindrical Gaussian surface surrounds a section of the rod + Ԧ
as shown in the figure and apply Gauss's law. Note that the flux 𝑑𝐴
+
through each end cap of the Gaussian surface is zero
a +
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐
ර𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ + න 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀0 p
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 𝑑𝐴Ԧ r
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐 𝜆ℎ 𝐸 b 𝐸
0 + න 𝐸𝑑𝐴 cos 0 + 0 = 𝐸 න 𝑑𝐴 = → 𝐸 2𝜋𝑟ℎ =
𝜀0 𝜀0 c +
𝑏 𝑏
+ Ԧ
𝜆 2𝑘𝜆 𝑑𝐴
𝐸= = +
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 𝑟

where r is the distance from the cylindrical axis to the point p

Example: A charge Q is uniformly distributed along a vertical cylinder
of height 1.8 m and radius R =10 cm produces an electric field of
magnitude 2.4 M N/C at the cylindrical surface. What is the value of Q

Solution E=
𝜆
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑅
=
𝑄/𝐿
2𝜋𝜀0 𝑅
→ Q= 2𝜋𝜀0 𝑅𝐿𝐸 = 24 𝜇𝐶 . ..
3 2 1
a
b

Example: Tow long coaxial cylinders of radii a and b and charge densities
a
a and b . Find E at three points
b
(a) At point 1 inside the inner cylinder, (b) At point 2 between them (c) At
point 3 outside the two cyliders

Solution: applying Gauss's law in these regions, we find

(a) In region 1 E=0 ra
2𝑘𝑎
(b) In region 2 E= 𝑎 ≤𝑟≤𝑏
𝑟

2𝑘 (𝑎 +𝑏 )
(c) In region 3 E= 𝑟≥𝑏
𝑟
 4- Gauss’ law-spherical symmetry

Example: Using Gauss’s law to find the electric field of a point charge q

Imagine a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r enclosed the point charge as shown in
Solution: the figure, and apply Gauss's law

𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐
ර 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = ර 𝐸𝑑𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 0 = r
𝜀0

𝑞 𝑞
𝐸 ර 𝑑𝐴 = → 𝐸 4𝜋𝑟 2
= q 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ
𝜀0 𝜀0

𝐸
𝑞 𝑘𝑞
𝐸= 2
= 2
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 𝑟
 E inside and outside a spherical shell (or conducting sphere) of
radius R and charge q uniformly distributed over its surface

(a) E inside: imagine a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r  R R

concentric with the shell as shown in fiq.1. Applying Gaussian law
r q
Fiq.1
ර 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = 𝑞𝜀𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 𝜀0 E=0 𝑟<𝑅
0 0

(b) E ouside: imagine a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r  R

concentric with the shell as shown in fiq.2. Applying Gaussian law

R
ර 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = 𝑞𝜀𝑒𝑛𝑐 → 𝐸 ර 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑞
𝜀0
r
0 Fiq.2
q
𝑞
𝐸 ර 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸 4𝜋𝑟 2 = → 𝐸 = 𝑘𝑞
𝑟2
𝑟≥𝑅
𝜀0
 Similarly, E inside and outside a spherical charge of
radius R and uniform charge q (The charge is distributed + ++ +
+ +
uniformly over the volume of the sphere) + + + +
+ + +
+
𝐸 = 𝑘𝑞 𝑟≥𝑅 𝐸 = 𝑘𝑞 𝑟 𝑟≤𝑅 + + +
𝑟2 𝑅3

Example: Tow concentric spherical shells of radii a and b and uniform charges
qa and qb . Find E (a) Inside the inner shell, (b) Between them (c) Outside them

Solution: applying Gauss's law in these regions, we find

(a) In region 1 E=0 ra

b a
𝑘𝑞𝑎 1 2 3
(b) In region 2 E= 𝑎 ≤𝑟<𝑏 qa
𝑟2

qb
𝑘 (𝑞𝑎 +𝑞𝑏 )
(c) In region 3 E= 𝑟≥𝑏
𝑟2
 Example: A charge Q = -16e is uniformly distributed over the R
surface of a spherical shell of radius R = 10 cm. A particle of charge
q = 5e is placed at the center of the shell. What is the magnitude and q
direction of the electric field (a) at r1 = 6 cm and (b) at r2 = 12 cm.
Q
Solution: (a): Imagine a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r1
concentric with the shall and apply Gauss’s law R

r q
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐 𝑘𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐 𝑘 5𝑒
ර 𝐸. 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = 𝑞𝜀𝑒𝑛𝑐 → E 4𝜋𝑟12 = → E= 2 = 2 = 2𝜇 𝑁/𝐶 Q
0 𝜀0 𝑟1 𝑟1

(b): Imagine a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r2

concentric with the shall and apply Gauss’s law R
r q
𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐 𝑘5𝑒 − 16𝑒
E 4𝜋𝑟22 = → E= = 1.1𝜇 𝑁/𝐶
𝜀0 𝑟12 Q
 Example: The induced charge

Example: A particle of charge q = – 5C is located at a distance R/2

from the center of a spherical metallic shell of inner radius R1 and outer
radius R2 (a) What are the induced charges of its inner and outer
surfaces. (b) what are the field patterns inside and outside the shell

Solution: (a) E must be zero inside the shell at R1  r  R2. Imagine a

Gaussian surface inside the shell. According to Gauss’s law, qenc by the
Gaussian surface must be zero. The conduction electrons at the inner surface
of the shell repel with q inside, so a charge of -5 C leave the inner surface
and spread out uniformly to the outer surface of the shell. The charge – 5C at
the outer surface and + 5C at the inner surface are called Induced charge
-
+ -
(b): The field lines inside and outside the shell intersects the shell - +
and the particles perpendicularly as shown in the figure. Inside the +
shell the field line are skewed due to the irregularity of the positive -+ +-
charge distribution. Outside the shell the pattern is the same as the +
particle is located at the center and the shell is missing -+ -