Electric Flux

The Main Idea

Electric flux through an area is the electric field multiplied by the area of a plane that is perpendicular to the field. Gauss's Law relates the electric flux through an area to the amount of charge enclosed in that area. Gauss's law must be used along a closed surface, but any chosen surface that contains the same amount of charge will give the same answer

A Mathematical Model

[math]\displaystyle{ \text{Electric Flux:} Φelectric ={ Q \over ε_0} }[/math]

[math]\displaystyle{ \text {Electric Flux:} Φelectric= \int \ {\vec{E}cosθdA} }[/math]

Where theta is the angle between the electric field vector and the surface normal.

Combining these two equations gives:

[math]\displaystyle{ \text{Gauss's Law for Electric Fields:} \oint{ \vec{E} \cdot d\vec{A} } ⃗= {Q\over ε_0} }[/math]

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

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Connectedness

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History

Carl Gauss discovered this relation in 1835 and the equation was published in 1867. It is considered to be one of the four equations that are the basis for electrodynamics.

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#c1