What is the Physical Significance of Curl in Gauss Law?

In summary, Gauss's Law is a fundamental law in electromagnetism that relates the electric flux through a closed surface to the charge enclosed within the surface. It is used to calculate the electric field at a point by knowing the charge enclosed and the shape of the surface. Its main assumptions are symmetry in the electric field and a closed surface enclosing the charge. Gauss's Law cannot be used in situations without symmetry. It is related to Coulomb's Law as a mathematical formulation and both laws are fundamental in understanding electric charges.
  • #1
gandharva_23
61
0
is gauss law (i.e surface integeral of E.ds is equal to charge enclosed upon epsilon not ) valid for charges in motion or is it just valid for electrostatic conditions ?
 
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  • #2
Yes. Gauss's law is one of the four equations of Maxwell which apply to all classical electromagnetic phenomena, static and dynamic. Gauss's law is basically a law of divergence. This concept has applications in more than just electromagnetism.
 
  • #3
thanks a lot ... what is the physical significance of curl of a vector field ?
 

1. What is Gauss's Law and how is it applicable?

Gauss's Law is a fundamental law of electromagnetism that relates the electric flux through a closed surface to the charge enclosed within the surface. This law is applicable in situations where there is symmetry in the electric field, making it easier to calculate the electric flux and distribution of charge.

2. How is Gauss's Law used to calculate the electric field?

Gauss's Law states that the electric flux through a closed surface is equal to the charge enclosed within the surface divided by the permittivity of free space. This allows us to calculate the electric field at a point by knowing the charge enclosed within a surface and the shape of the surface itself.

3. What are the assumptions made in applying Gauss's Law?

The main assumption in applying Gauss's Law is that the electric field must have symmetry. This means that the electric field must be constant in magnitude and direction over the surface being considered. Additionally, the surface must be closed and completely enclose the charge distribution.

4. Can Gauss's Law be used in situations where there is no symmetry?

No, Gauss's Law is only applicable in situations where there is symmetry in the electric field. If the electric field is not symmetrical, then the electric flux cannot be calculated and Gauss's Law cannot be used.

5. How does Gauss's Law relate to Coulomb's Law?

Gauss's Law is a mathematical formulation of Coulomb's Law. It allows us to calculate the electric field at a point using the charge enclosed within a closed surface. Coulomb's Law, on the other hand, gives us the force between two point charges based on their distance and magnitude. Both laws are fundamental in understanding and predicting the behavior of electric charges.

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