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crazynut52
Oct17-04, 08:51 PM
I've been thinking about this problem for a while now, and I cant get it to work out. A 9.6X10^-6 C point charge is at the center of a cube with sides of length .5m What is the electric Flux through one of the six faces of the cube? I know the answer is 1.81X10^5 but I cant figure out how to get there. Please Help!!

Tide
Oct17-04, 09:04 PM
Hint 1: What would the total flux be through the entire cubic surface?

Hint 2: Invoke symmetry!

vsage
Oct17-04, 09:09 PM
\oint {E \cdot dA} = \frac{q}{\epsilon_0}

Let's say B = the area of one side then 6B = A if A is the total surface area so...

\oint {E \cdot da} = \frac{q}{\epsilon_0} = 6b \times E

the flux through B is therefore what? (I Realize this isn't entirely correct because I am assuming E and dA are parallel but the answer remains the same through symmetry)

crazynut52
Oct17-04, 09:10 PM
sure is easy when you figure it out... thanks for the help