What is Gauss: Definition and 645 Discussions

Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss (; German: Gauß [kaʁl ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈɡaʊs] (listen); Latin: Carolus Fridericus Gauss; 30 April 1777 – 23 February 1855) was a German mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to many fields in mathematics and science. Sometimes referred to as the Princeps mathematicorum (Latin for '"the foremost of mathematicians"') and "the greatest mathematician since antiquity", Gauss had an exceptional influence in many fields of mathematics and science, and is ranked among history's most influential mathematicians.

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  1. E

    Gauss' Law for electromagnetic radiation?

    For the proof I've read that verifies transverse electromagnetic waves are consistent with Gauss' Law, there seems to be the suggestion that the magnetic and electric field at a given small length c(dt), along which the waves travel, propagate infinitely backwards and forwards in their...
  2. T

    Understanding Gauss' law: diff b/w E and D flux?

    I noticed the other day something odd in how we use Electric and Magnetic flux. The definitions I refer to are magnetic flux density (B), magnetic flux intensity (H), electric displacement field (D) or Electric field density (D) and electric field (E): B = μH ΦB = B*Area & D = εE ΦE = E*Area...
  3. N

    Using Gauss' Law to Calculate electric field near rod.

    Homework Statement No variables, just a conceptual question. Homework Equations Flux = EA = Q/ε The Attempt at a Solution Given a uniformly charged rod of FINITE length, could we use Gauss' law for electric flux to calculate the field at a point p a distance x away from the rod, so long as the...
  4. NFuller

    I Understanding Gauss's Law: Where Does the Argument Break Down?

    So, this has been bothering me for a few days and I'm having trouble understanding where the fault is. If we consider a uniform charge density ##\rho## extending through all space, then by symmetry, I would argue that ##\mathbf{E}=0## in all space. However, this does not agree with what a naive...
  5. W

    Calculating electric flux when given a charge (Gauss)

    Homework Statement A charge Q=5.14 nC is located at the center is located at the center of a Gaussian sphere of radius R=10.0 cm . The sphere lies within a uniform upward electric field E=2100 NC The net outward electric flux through the sphere is What? Second problem (bonus round!) A...
  6. R

    Is there any way to calculate this integral?

    I have done it by the parametric form of σ, but if I change σ to implicit form that is G(x,y,z)=x^2+y*2+z^2-R^2=0 I don't know how continue. The theory is: where Rxy is the projection of σ in plane xy so it's the circumference x^2+y^2=R^2
  7. GAURAV DADWAL

    B Solving Gauss' Law Problem for Varying Electric Fields

    I WAS THINKING ABOUT A REGION OF SPACE WITH ELECTRIC FIELD ALONG POSITIVE X DIRECTION AND Varying WITH SPACE COORDINATE(x) NOW IF ONE IMAGINES A CUBE IN SPACE SUCH THAT FIELD CROSSES ITS TWO FACES AT RIGHT ANGLES ,A SIMPLE Application of...
  8. A

    Capacitance capacitor parallel plate with dielectric (Gauss)

    Homework Statement I have an elementary doubt with the calculation of the capacitance of a capacitor of parallel plates that has a dielectric in the middle. https://ibb.co/b0W4BQ Homework Equations ∫D⋅ds=Q D=E+γP C=Q/V The Attempt at a Solution Suppose the top plate has a positive charge...
  9. G

    Gauss' Law - Electric Field for a Charged Metal Plate

    Homework Statement An infinite metal plate has a surface density of charge σL=-6μC/m² , Left side and a surface density Of load σR=+4μC/m² , in the right side. A Gaussian surface In the form of a circular cylinder, with area A 12 cm², is Located with the left side inside the plaque and a thin...
  10. A

    How is momentum conserved in a Gauss Gun?

    Homework Statement So for those who aren't familiar with the Gauss Gun here is a video demonstrating its function: As you can see in the video, a steel ball is rolled towards a sequence of magnets and other steel balls and as the incoming ball strikes the magnet, the ball on the other end...
  11. D

    Gauss' gun/magnetic linear accelerator

    Hi, I'm currently doing my extended essay for the IB in physics and I'm basing mine around the Gauss gun (similar post that explains it really well here https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/physics-behind-gaussian-accelerator-magnetic-linear-accelerator.320389/). What I was wondering was how I...
  12. S

    I Why Do We Consider External Electric Fields in Gauss' Law Calculations?

    According to Gauss Law, we only consider charges which are inside the surface to produce net flux. We disregard the charges outside the surface because they produce zero net flux (as the electric field lines enter the surface and leave the surface producing zero net flux) My question is, since...
  13. Arman777

    Gauss' Law: Charge distribution on concentric spherical surfaces

    Homework Statement A metallic sphere of radius a is placed concentrically with a metallic spherical shell with inner radius b and outer radius c. The sphere has a total charge of 2Q and the shell has a total charge of 3Q. (a) What is the charge distribution? Specifically, what is...
  14. Arman777

    Uniform Slab-Finding Electric Field Using Gauss Law

    Homework Statement Uniform Slab: Consider an infinite slab of charge with thickness 2a. We choose the origin inside the slab at an equal distance from both faces (so that the faces of the slab are at z = +a and z = −a). The charge density ρ inside the slab is uniform (i.e., ρ =const). Consider a...
  15. grandpa2390

    Gauss' Law -- Clarification about using the equation please

    Homework Statement I keep getting confused about this part of Gauss' law. Is the da on the left side the surface area of the the Gaussian surface? and on the right side when I am integrating. I say that q = the charge density multiplied by something. Is that something surface area of the...
  16. F

    Understanding the Gauss-Seidel Iteration Method: Exploring the Blue Circled Part

    Homework Statement Using the circled formula , here's what i gt (photo3) , , why the author ignore the blue circled part ? Is the author wrong ... If the blue part isn't ignored , i gt this pls refer to the photo 3 which is correct ? The author or me ? Or I'm misunderstanding something ...
  17. D

    Potential energy in Gauss' gun

    Homework Statement For my extended essay as part of the IB, I am investigating the effect of changing the distance and the number of stationary ball bearings in a Gaussian gun. I was hoping to look at the energy transfer during each stage of magnets and therefore calculate the efficiency...
  18. J

    Charge on a cavity wall and Gauss' law

    Homework Statement An isolated conductor has a net charge of +14.0 × 10- 6 C and a cavity with a particle of charge q = +4.30 × 10-6 C. What is the charge (a) on the cavity wall and (b) on the outer surface? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution So I understand that B is just adding the...
  19. A

    B How to find the appropriate area in Gauss' law

    Knowing that Gauss' law states that the closed integral of e * dA = q(enclosed)/e naut, how would you find exactly what A is in any given problem? I know it varies from situation to situation depending on the geometry of the charge. For instance, I know that for an infinite wire/line of...
  20. pesslovany

    Application of Gauss' law - point charge in hollow sphere

    Firstly I appologize, that I am not native english speaker and I don't study physics(but cybernetics we are getting just some general knowledge about physics), but hopeffuly I will write this right. Homework Statement We know that inside of a conductive object is protected from influence of...
  21. S

    A Degree of Gauss normal map

    If ##M^{2} \subset \mathbb{R}^{3}## is a surface with given normal field, we define the Gauss (normal) map $$n:M^{2} \rightarrow \text{unit sphere}\ S^{2}$$ by $$n(p) = \textbf{N}(p), \qquad \text{the unit normal to $M$ at $p$}.$$...
  22. Abwi

    Electric force between two spheres

    Homework Statement [/B] Find the electric force between the two spheres. Sphere r=b-a has a volumetric density of p=K, where K is a constant Sphere r=a has a volumetric density of p=θ*r Homework Equations As you can see the sphere of radius 'a' doesn't have a uniform electric field because...
  23. G

    Shielding an off-center charge with a conducting shell

    Hi. I'd like to show that a conducting, charged spherical shell can shield the field of an inside opposite point charge even if this charge is not at the center. I was thinking about a Gaussian surface just outside the sphere, such that if there were electric field vectors they would be...
  24. G

    Faraday cage from Gauss' law alone?

    Hi. Is it possible to derive the properties of a Faraday cage from Gauss' law alone? I found some "derivations" which I find rather unconvincing since they somehow conclude from a vanishing flux that the E field must vanish as well. Some slightly more elaborate derivations use a combination of...
  25. G

    I Differential form of Gauss' law: All three terms the same value?

    Hi. Is the Maxwell equation $$\nabla\cdot\vec{E}=\frac{\rho}{\varepsilon_0}$$ even true in the stronger form $$\frac{\partial E_i}{\partial x_i}=\frac{\rho}{3\cdot\varepsilon_0}\enspace ?$$ I guess not, since I haven't found a source suggesting this. But shouldn't the isotropic electric field...
  26. LAByrinthAC

    Can Gauss's Law Derive the Electric Field Around a Uniformly Charged Ring?

    Hey guys can we derive the formula of Electric Field Intensity around a uniformly charged ring if yes please share the derivation thanks
  27. D

    I Solving Gauss' Law Problem: Zero E Field?

    Lets consider a hollow sphere with charge +q and than a larger hollow sphere that encloses it with -q, so two spheres one inside the other. Now we use draw an even larger Gaussian sphere that encloses both of these, ∫EdA = Qinclosed/ ∈_0 the total enclosed charge is +q + -q = 0 so ∫EdA = 0 E...
  28. stephen8686

    B How does Gauss's Law relate to E=(2kλ)/r for an infinite line of charge?

    I was looking for a derivation of E=(2kλ)/r for an infinite line of charge. I understood that you need to use Gauss's Law and a cylinder around the line. When looked it up, I found this: http://www.vizitsolutions.com/portfolio/gausslaw/lineCharge.html He starts out with ∫E⋅dA=4πq. I have never...
  29. math4everyone

    Proving Gauss Law using a "bad" Gaussian surface

    Homework Statement What I basically want to do is to prove Gauss Law with a cylinder perpendicular to an infinite charged wire (I know I can do this simple, but I want to do it this way) This is what I have done so far: Homework Equations $$\Phi=\int \frac{dq}{4\pi \varepsilon_0 r^2} \hat{r}...
  30. W

    Electric field inside and outside a sphere (Not Gauss)

    Find E(r) inside and outside a uniformly charged spherical volume by superposing the electric fields produced by a collection of uniformly charged disks. a+b) Given equations, sketch of problem This is the equation in the handbook for a disk (but in the exercises the z becomes x, without loss of...
  31. G

    Faraday cage in electrodynamics (with currents)

    Hi. Assume a long hollow wire that both carries a nonzero net charge and a current. Is it still true that all charge sits on the outer surface of the cable and that the empty space inside is field-free (Faraday cage)? I know proofs of those facts in electrostatics using Gauss' theorem, but they...
  32. Blockade

    Need help in Electric Flux within a cube with Gauss' Law

    Homework Statement I need help in figuring out if I have done this problem correctly. From what I understand ∫E * dA = E*A, where E is the electric field and A is the area of a side. My biggest concern is if I can plug in the length "L" for the "x" and "z" variables within "E = -5x * E0/L i +...
  33. E

    I Simplifying integral of Gauss' hypergeometric function

    Hello all, I have this integral, and currently I'm evaluating it using Mathematica numerically, which takes time to be evaluated. Can I write it in a way that the integral has a formula in the Table of Integrals? \int_0^{\infty} F\left(a_1,a_2;a_3;a_4-a_5x\right) e^{-x}\,dx where...
  34. P

    I Gauss' theorem and inverse square law

    So, I know that the gauss law states that the Flux of the electric field through a closed surface is Q/ε , but does the gauss theorem works also for non inverse square law Fields? I think not because in order to not have a Flux depending on distance but a constant one we need that r^2 of the...
  35. Magnetic Boy

    Electric field calculated by gauss law

    Which one is correct?? 1) electric field calculated by gauss law is the field due to charges inside the closed surface. 2) the flux of the electric field through a closed surface due to all charges is equal to the flux due to charges enclosed by the surface
  36. K

    Spherical Shell using Gauss' Law

    Homework Statement An insulator is in the shape of a spherical shell. The insulator is defined by an inner radius a = 4 cm and an outer radius b = 6 cm and carries a total charge of Q = + 9 C (1 C = 10-6 C). You may assume that the charge is distributed uniformly throughout the volume of the...
  37. P

    I Why does Gauss' law hold for any closed surface?

    Why does Gauss' law hold for any closed surface? and can you show this mathematically. Many thanks :)
  38. RoboNerd

    Question about problem solving approach to Gauss' Law

    Homework Statement Hi, I am studying gauss's law via this book below.[/B] http://faculty.polytechnic.org/cfletcher/Phys%20With%20Calc_Vol_2_web_pdfs_2010/i-Ch14-PCALC--GAUSS'S%20LAW.pdf On page 8, and 9, the book describes the shell method of finding the volume of the sphere and then using...
  39. F

    Gauss' Law between infinite plates

    Homework Statement The volume between two infinite plates located at x=L and x=-L respectively is filled with a uniform charge density ##\rho##. Calculate the electric field in the regions above, between and below the plates. Calculate the potential difference between the points x=-L and x=L...
  40. ezgie

    Effect of Collimated lens on Gauss Beam

    Hello everyone, I am trying to find effect of collimated lens on gaussian beam propagation. Do you know how to solve that? I need any equations ,then going to use them via matlab. Thanks
  41. J

    Gauss' Law for a coaxial cable

    Homework Statement I have attached the problem Homework Equations E*A = Qenc/ E0 The Attempt at a Solution At the moment I am looking at the problem more conceptually and seeing what is happening at each point and I wanted to know If I was on the right track. r<a As all charge would...
  42. P

    What is the charge on the outer surface of the middle conductor?

    Homework Statement Three concentric hollow spherical conductors are charged as follows: the inner conductor carries charge Q, the middle conductor carries charge -2Q, and the outer conductor carries charge -Q. What is the charge on the outer surface of the middle conductor? Homework Equations...
  43. ing_it

    Intensity of an electric field near a wire -- With and without Gauss' Law

    Homework Statement We have a wire of the length L=0.2m which is uniformly charged with a linear density of Lambda = 3nC/cm. Find the intensity (E) of the electric field in point A1 whose perpendicular distance from the wire is a=0.05m. The wire is in a vacuum. Compare the intensity with the...
  44. KT KIM

    Derive the Analog of Gauss' law

    I am stuck with this (d) all the other (a),(b),(c) were just like (a) E= −∇φ (b) ∇ · E= −∇2φ (c) ∇ × E I know only very basic about Gauss' law, the problem is not from Electrodynamics course. I don't know what should I do to solve (d)
  45. C

    I Divergence Theorem and Gauss Law

    Divergence theorem states that $\int \int\vec{E}\cdot\vec{ds}=\int\int\int div(\vec{E})dV$ And Gauss law states that $\int \int\vec{E}\cdot\vec{ds}=\int\int\int \rho(x,y,z)dV$ If $\vec{E}$ to be electric field vector then i could say that $div(\vec{E})=\rho(x,y,z)$ However i can't see any...
  46. L

    Gauss' Law & charge inside sphere

    1. Homework Statement I need to find the total charge inside the small metal sphere, inside the big metal sphere as well as outside the big metal sphere. Homework Equations What confuses me is the electric field vector. Since it's only poiting in one direction it can't originate from a...
  47. M

    MHB Gauss Law and field charge

    I need to prove that the field charge of 2 infinite, oppositely charged plates is 0 using Gauss' law. I know that the sum of E=4PiK(Sum of q) but I don't know how to prove the charge is 0.
  48. B

    Solve Gauss' Law Question: Find Max Acceleration of Two Balls

    Homework Statement Consider two balls of equal radii and masses but opposite charges, distributed uniformly over their volumes. Initially, the balls are at rest and far away from one another. Due to the Coulomb attraction, the balls start moving towards each other. The balls can be treated as...
  49. A

    Gaussian gun: Where does the extra kinetic energy come from?

    Probably a stupid question, but I do not get it... Here you can see an experiment demonstrating the Gaussian gun: Here I understand how momentum is conserved, i.e. the smaller mass of the ejected ball times its high speed is equal the bigger total mass of the recoiling masses times its...
  50. P

    B Gaussian Curvature and Riemmanian Geometry

    Please bear with me because I'm only in Pre-calculus and am taking basic high school physics. This is completely outside of my realm but curiosity has taken the better of me. I just learned last week about the difference between Euclidean Geometry and Riemmanian Geometry (from another thread...
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