How Do You Calculate Electric Flux Through a Circular Disk in an Electric Field?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the electric flux through a circular disk in a constant electric field, the relevant equation is Eflux = integral of E dot dA. The user attempted to solve the problem by integrating the electric field components, but expressed uncertainty about the accuracy of their double integral calculations. They arrived at a final answer of -E(subscript 0) a^2 / square root of 2, questioning whether this was correct. Clarifications were provided regarding whether the electric field is uniform, which would simplify the calculation by allowing a direct dot product of the field and area vectors. The discussion emphasizes the importance of careful integration and understanding the orientation of the electric field relative to the disk.
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Homework Statement


"Given a constant electric field E = E(subscript 0)(1 / square root of 2 i + 1 / square root of 2 k), find the electric flux through a circular disk of radius a lying flat in the x-y plane. Orient the disk so that the positive direction is toward positive z.


Homework Equations



The most relevant equation to this problem is Eflux = integral of E dot dA.

The Attempt at a Solution



I've completely finished a solution, but there are many places to make mistakes here, I think, despite what may be a simple problem.

I said that Eflux = (-E subscript 0) double integral from 0 to a (x and y) of E dot k dx dy. I went on to place 1 / square root of 2 into the integral, but only once for the k and not the i component. Would this be correct? I then integrated with respect to x and got (1 / square root of 2)x dy. Integrating again, I think I get (1 / square root of 2)a^2. Note that i replaced x with a there. I'm unsure if I did my double integral correctly...I'm only beginning Calculus 3 now, and it wasn't a prerequisite for Physics. Oh well.

When all is said and done, I get -E(subscript 0) a^2 / square root of 2.

Is my answer close? I presumed that E is negative because the disk was in the positive Z direction. I apologize for the fact that I'm unable to upload images of my work. Any help would be very much appreciated!
 
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Is the field is uniform?

if no then think of integration.

if yes, no need of integration simply write field and the area as vectors and perform dot product of them.
 
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