Flux through sphere from six point charges using Gauss's law

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kyho
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electromagnetism
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 2K views
Kyho
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi, got some homework to do in electromagnetism and one of the problems is:

Homework Statement



Consider a Cartesian coordinate system with charges Q (Q = 15μC) at x = + and – 1.3cm, and at y = + 1.7cm and
– 0.7cm and at z = + 2cm and -0.5cm. Calculate the flux of the electrostatic field through the surface of a sphere
of radius 3cm, centered at the origin.

Equations:
Gauss law. Coulomb law

Attempts:
I don't really know the right way to start this problem. The only thing I done is placed the charges in a cartesian coordinate system. I thought of calculating all the electric fields to get the resultant electric field. and from there on I have no idea how to continue.

Not asking here for a complete solution of the problem, but maybe a hint on how to start.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
think of the flux lines as flowing water. the charges are sources of water. calculate the total amount of water leaving the sphere.
 
well after consulting with some friends, they came to the result that you just got to add up the charges and the divide it through epsilon0. (thanks to: superpostion principle)

seems a bit to simplictic for an uni exercise sheet as the one from last week was way harder :/.