A question about Gauss' Theorem

In summary, the conversation discusses a statement from the book "Mathematical Methods for Physicists" by Arfken, Weber, and Harris regarding Gauss's Theorem. The statement states that the surface integral of a vector over a closed surface is equal to the volume integral of the divergence of the vector over the entire closed surface. However, there is confusion about the use of symbols, as the book uses ##\partial V## instead of ##S## to denote the surface integral. It is explained that for any volume ##V##, ##\partial V## represents its boundary. This clarifies the use of symbols in the statement.
  • #1
Wrichik Basu
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I was reading the book "Mathematical Methods for Physicists", and in the first chapter, under Gauss's Theorem, the statement given was:

The surface integral of a vector over a closed surface equals the volume integral of the divergence of the vector over the entire closed surface.

But the in the mathematical form, ##\partial V## was used instead of ##S## to denote the surface integral.

20180427_130410.png


I could understand that ##\partial V## is the same as ##S##. Can anyone explain how?
 

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  • #2
Wrichik Basu said:
I was reading the book "Mathematical Methods for Physicists"
Always quote the author(s) as well as the book title when you quote something. There are many books with this title and similar and without the authors we cannot know which.

Wrichik Basu said:
The surface integral of a vector over a closed surface equals the volume integral of the divergence of the vector over the entire closed surface.
This is not correct. The integral of the divergence should be over the enclosed volume, not the surface.

For any volume ##V##, ##\partial V## denotes its boundary.
 
  • #3
Orodruin said:
Always quote the author(s) as well as the book title when you quote something. There are many books with this title and similar and without the authors we cannot know which.

Authors are Arfken, Weber and Harris.

Orodruin said:
This is not correct. The integral of the divergence should be over the enclosed volume, not the surface
My mistake. In the book, it was written over the entire volume.

Orodruin said:
For any volume V, ∂V denotes its boundary.
Understood, thanks.
 

1. How does Gauss' Theorem relate to electromagnetism?

Gauss' Theorem, also known as Gauss' Law, is a fundamental law of electromagnetism. It states that the total electric flux through a closed surface is equal to the enclosed electric charge divided by the permittivity of free space.

2. What is the mathematical representation of Gauss' Theorem?

Gauss' Theorem can be mathematically represented as ∫∫S E · dA = Qenc / ε0, where E is the electric field, S is the closed surface, dA is the differential area element, Qenc is the enclosed electric charge, and ε0 is the permittivity of free space.

3. What is the significance of Gauss' Theorem in physics?

Gauss' Theorem is a fundamental principle in electromagnetism and is used to explain the behavior of electric fields and charges. It helps us understand how electric charges interact with each other and how electric fields are created.

4. Can Gauss' Theorem be applied to any closed surface?

Yes, Gauss' Theorem can be applied to any closed surface, regardless of its shape or size. As long as the surface completely encloses the electric charge, the theorem can be used to calculate the electric flux through that surface.

5. How is Gauss' Theorem related to Coulomb's Law?

Gauss' Theorem is closely related to Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two electric charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Both laws are fundamental principles in electromagnetism and are used to describe the behavior of electric charges and fields.

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