Gauss's Law: Difference between revisions

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==The Main Idea==
==The Main Idea==


The idea of Gauss's Law is that the electric flux out of a closed surface is equivalent to the charge enclosed, divided by the permittivity (often written using 'Epsilon').  There is a near identical law to this law, known as Gauss's law for Magnetism.  The variation found is that magnetic fields are used instead of electric fields in the calculations.  Also, Gauss's Law for Gravity is very similar as well.  To state it again, the electric flux passing through a closed surface is the same as the charge enclosed, divided by permittivity of the surface. This implies that the electric flux is proportional to the total charge enclosed. Any closed surface can be have Gauss's Law applied to it.  For symmetrically shaped objects, Gauss's Law greatly simplifies calculation of electric field enclosed by surface.   
The idea of Gauss's Law is that the electric flux out of a closed surface is equivalent to the charge enclosed, divided by the permittivity.  There is a near identical law to this law, known as Gauss's law for Magnetism.  The variation found is that magnetic fields are used instead of electric fields in the calculations.  Also, Gauss's Law for Gravity is very similar as well.  To state it again, the electric flux passing through a closed surface is the same as the charge enclosed, divided by permittivity of the surface. This implies that the electric flux is proportional to the total charge enclosed. Any closed surface can be have Gauss's Law applied to it.  For symmetrically shaped objects, Gauss's Law greatly simplifies calculation of electric field enclosed by surface.   




===A Mathematical Model===
===A Mathematical Model===


A very helpful and clear summary of this Law can be found here.  
A very helpful and clear summary of this Law can be found in the diagram below. As can be seen, change in flux equals electric field multiplied by change in area. 
[[File:Gaulaw.gif]]
[[File:Gaulaw.gif]]
To more clearly state it, the formula for this Law is the electric flux equals the total charge contained by a closed surface, divided by the permittivity (epsilon zero).


[[File:Adc2dff3156800a39ef0a9df76a7d868.png]]
[[File:Adc2dff3156800a39ef0a9df76a7d868.png]]


What are the mathematical equations that allow us to model this topic.  For example <math>{\frac{d\vec{p}}{dt}}_{system} = \vec{F}_{net}</math> where '''p''' is the momentum of the system and '''F''' is the net force from the surroundings.
 


===A Computational Model===
===A Computational Model===
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Be sure to show all steps in your solution and include diagrams whenever possible
Be sure to show all steps in your solution and include diagrams whenever possible


===Simple===
===Middling===
===Difficult===


==Connectedness==
==Connectedness==

Revision as of 09:52, 12 April 2016

Claimed by Kel Johnson


One of Maxwell's Equations, formulated by Carl Friedrich Gauss. Gauss's Law, also known as Gauss's flux theorem, discusses the relationship between electric charge and the surrounding field caused by the charge.

The Main Idea

The idea of Gauss's Law is that the electric flux out of a closed surface is equivalent to the charge enclosed, divided by the permittivity. There is a near identical law to this law, known as Gauss's law for Magnetism. The variation found is that magnetic fields are used instead of electric fields in the calculations. Also, Gauss's Law for Gravity is very similar as well. To state it again, the electric flux passing through a closed surface is the same as the charge enclosed, divided by permittivity of the surface. This implies that the electric flux is proportional to the total charge enclosed. Any closed surface can be have Gauss's Law applied to it. For symmetrically shaped objects, Gauss's Law greatly simplifies calculation of electric field enclosed by surface.


A Mathematical Model

A very helpful and clear summary of this Law can be found in the diagram below. As can be seen, change in flux equals electric field multiplied by change in area.

To more clearly state it, the formula for this Law is the electric flux equals the total charge contained by a closed surface, divided by the permittivity (epsilon zero).


A Computational Model

How do we visualize or predict using this topic. Consider embedding some vpython code here Teach hands-on with GlowScript

Examples

Be sure to show all steps in your solution and include diagrams whenever possible


Connectedness

  1. How is this topic connected to something that you are interested in?
  2. How is it connected to your major?
  3. Is there an interesting industrial application?

History

Put this idea in historical context. Give the reader the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

See also

Are there related topics or categories in this wiki resource for the curious reader to explore? How does this topic fit into that context?

Further reading

Books, Articles or other print media on this topic

External links

Internet resources on this topic

References

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/gaulaw.html