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Electric Charges And Fields

Question
CBSEENPH12039087

(a) Define electric flux. Write its S.I. units.

(b) Using Gauss’s law, prove that the electric field at a point due to a uniformly charged infinite plane sheet is independent of the distance from it.

(c) How is the field directed if (i) the sheet is positively charged, (ii) negatively charged?     

Solution

a) Electric flux is defined as the total number of electric field lines passing through an area normal to them.
straight phi straight space equals straight space contour integral straight E with rightwards harpoon with barb upwards on top. ds with rightwards harpoon with barb upwards on top
SI unit is Nm2/C.

 b) Gauss’s theorem states that the total electric flux through a closed surface is equal to  times the net charge enclosed by the surface. 
 

Consider a uniformly charged infinite plane sheet of charge density straight sigma .

Consider a Gaussian surface inside as shown in the figure which is in the form of a cylinder.

On applying Gauss’s law, we have
straight phi equals contour integral straight E with rightwards harpoon with barb upwards on top. ds with rightwards harpoon with barb upwards on top straight space equals straight space σds over straight epsilon subscript straight o

rightwards double arrow straight space straight E. ds straight space plus straight space straight E. ds straight space plus straight space 0

rightwards double arrow straight space fraction numerator straight sigma. ds over denominator straight epsilon subscript straight o end fraction equals 2 straight E. ds straight space equals straight space fraction numerator straight sigma. ds over denominator straight epsilon subscript straight o end fraction
rightwards double arrow straight space straight E straight space equals straight space fraction numerator straight sigma over denominator 2 straight epsilon subscript straight o end fraction 

Thus, electric field strength due to an infinite flat sheet of charge is independent of the distance of the point and is directed normally away from the charge.

If the surface charge density s is negative the electric field is directed towards the surface charge.

c) i) Away from the charged sheet.

ii) towards the plane sheet.