Electric Flux: Understanding and Explaining

[Winzer]

Homework Statement

Can some one explain Electric flux to me. I know it is suppose to measure the flow electricity but why is flux indepenent of area size?

 

[berkeman]

Homework Statement

Can some one explain Electric flux to me. I know it is suppose to measure the flow electricity but why is flux indepenent of area size?

You must be referring to some special geometrical situation. In general, the flux will ratio with the area... see the diagrams half-way down this page, for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_flux

The "flux density" will not change with area, however. Is that what you are asking about?

Or are you referring to the fact that the total flux from a point charge is the same as you go out through concentric spheres, farther and farther away from the point charge?

 

[m2003]

Electric flux is a measure of the amount of electric field passing through a given surface. It is independent of the size of the surface because it takes into account both the strength of the electric field and the orientation of the surface. This means that even if the surface is larger or smaller, as long as it is positioned in the same electric field, the same amount of flux will pass through it. This is similar to how the amount of water passing through a hose depends on the pressure of the water and the size and orientation of the hose, rather than just the size of the hose. In the case of electric flux, it is a useful concept for understanding and predicting the behavior of electric fields in different situations, such as in circuits or around charged objects.