Chapter 23: Problem 23
Figure 23-34 shows a closed Gaussian surface in the shape of a cube of edge length \(2.00 \mathrm{~m}\), with one corner at \(x_{1}=5.00 \mathrm{~m}\), \(y_{1}=4.00 \mathrm{~m}\). The cube lies in a region where the electric field vector is given by \(\vec{E}=+23.0 \hat{\mathrm{i}}-2.00 y^{2} \hat{\mathrm{j}}-16.0 \hat{\mathrm{k}} \mathrm{N} / \mathrm{C}\), with \(y\) in meters. What is the net charge contained by the cube?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand the Problem
Recall Gauss's Law
Calculate Electric Flux
Electric Flux - Top and Bottom Faces Contribution
Electric Flux - Front and Back Faces Contribution
Electric Flux - Left and Right Faces Contribution
Compute Enclosed Charge
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Electric Flux
- The formula for electric flux through a surface is given by the integral of the electric field \((\vec{E})\) dotted with the differential area \(d\vec{A}\): \( \Phi = \int \vec{E} \cdot d\vec{A} \.\)
- This is a vector operation, meaning the area element is perpendicular to the surface, pointing outward.
Understanding electric flux is key to solving problems involving Gauss’s Law.
Gaussian Surface
- The purpose of the Gaussian surface is to easily calculate the net electric flux, leading to finding the net charge inside.
- For an area with uniform symmetry, like a uniform cube in a uniform electric field, calculating the surface integral of the field becomes more straightforward.
Net Charge
- In our exercise, after deriving the total flux through the cube, we multiply by \(\varepsilon_0\) to find the enclosed net charge.
- This correlation is key to using Gauss's Law in practical situations, linking abstract concepts of field lines with the tangible quantity, charge.
Electric Field
- The vector components describe how the field varies in different directions — linear in the x-direction, quadratic in the y, and constant in the z.
- An electric field's properties are crucial in determining how the electric flux varies over a surface.