# Homework Help: Electric flux changing forumla variables

1. Jan 26, 2012

### kirby2

A point charge Q at the center of a sphere of radius R produces an electric flux of (flux symbol) coming out of the sphere. If the charge remains the same but the radius of the sphere is doubled, the electric flux coming out of it will be?

ATTEMPT: using the formula: flux=E(4(pi)r^2) I got (flux symbol)/4 as my answer. Is this right?

Last edited: Jan 26, 2012
2. Jan 26, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Have you studied Gauss' Law? What does it say about the flux and the total charge contained within a boundary?

3. Jan 26, 2012

### kirby2

well flux is = EA where A = 4(pi)r^2 and E = (kq)/r^2. so, it looks like the r^2 will cancel when multiplied, meaning that changing the radius doesn't change the flux. is this sound logic?

4. Jan 26, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

That'll do

FYI, Gauss' Law states that the total flux through a closed bounding surface is entirely determined by the total charge contained within that surface:

$\Phi = \frac{Q}{\epsilon_0}$

That's probably a more direct route to the same answer.

5. Jan 26, 2012

### kirby2

thank you very much