Calculating Electric Flux Through a Cube

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the electric flux through the faces of a cube that encloses a point charge. The charge is specified as 9.10 nC, and the cube has a defined side length of 0.685 m, with a follow-up question regarding a smaller cube of side length 0.250 m.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Gauss's law and the use of symmetry in determining the electric flux through the cube's faces. There is uncertainty regarding the correct application of these concepts, particularly in relation to the additive constant mentioned in the original post.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered hints regarding the total flux through closed surfaces surrounding a charge, suggesting that symmetry can be used to distribute this flux across the cube's faces. However, there remains a lack of clarity on how to apply these hints to find the flux for each face specifically.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of applying Gauss's law and symmetry in the context of electric flux, with some expressing uncertainty about their understanding of the concepts involved. There is also mention of previous homework assignments that may influence their current understanding.

stylez03
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Electric Flux of a cube

Homework Statement


A point charge of magnitude 9.10 nC is at the center of a cube with sides of length 0.685 m.

What is the electric flux through each of the six faces of the cube?

What would be the flux Phi_1 through a face of the cube if its sides were of length 0.250 m?

Homework Equations


4*pi*Q


The Attempt at a Solution



I tried 4*pi*9.10 which equals 411 and it says I'm off by an additive constant

I know to do part2, the flux must be found for part1 but I'm not sure if I'm applying gauss's law correctly, I know that you can use symmetry to solve these cube problems but I haven't had a decent example of this type of problem and we already have homework on it.
 
Last edited:
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Hint: What's the total flux through any closed surface that surrounds a charge Q? Once you find the total flux, then use symmetry to find the flux through each side of the cube.
 
Doc Al said:
Hint: What's the total flux through any closed surface that surrounds a charge Q? Once you find the total flux, then use symmetry to find the flux through each side of the cube.

Is the flux on any surface that surrounds a charge Q => Qenclosed / Eo
 
Last edited:
stylez03 said:
Is the flux on any surface that surrounds a charge Q => Qenclosed / Eo
Yes it is.
 
Doc Al said:
Yes it is.

Though with this, knowledge, I'm still not sure how to figure out the flux on each side of the cube.
 
Start by figuring out which side has the most flux passing through it. :wink:
 
hummm is it Q/Eo/6?
 

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