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physicsprasanna
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why is it that a gaussian surface cannot pass through discrete charges ... but can pass through a continuous charge distribution??
HyperphysicsThe electric flux through an area is defined as the electric field multiplied by the area of the surface projected in a plane perpendicular to the field. Gauss's Law is a general law applying to any closed surface. It is an important tool since it permits the assessment of the amount of enclosed charge by mapping the field on a surface outside the charge distribution. For geometries of sufficient symmetry, it simplifies the calculation of the electric field.
Simply a collection of charges, but mathematically we treat them as 'uniformly' distributed rather than discrete units.lifesfun said:may i know what is distribution charge?
Gauss' Law is a fundamental law in physics that relates the electric field to the distribution of electric charges. It states that the electric flux through a closed surface is equal to the total charge enclosed by that surface divided by the permittivity of free space.
Discrete charges refer to individual point charges, while continuous charges refer to a distribution of charges over a continuous region. Discrete charges can be represented as distinct points, while continuous charges require integration to calculate the total charge.
For discrete charges, Gauss' Law states that the total electric flux through a closed surface is equal to the sum of the individual point charges enclosed by that surface divided by the permittivity of free space.
For continuous charges, Gauss' Law states that the total electric flux through a closed surface is equal to the integral of the electric field over that surface, multiplied by the permittivity of free space.
Continuous charge distributions are generally easier to calculate using Gauss' Law because they can be represented by a continuous function and can be solved using integration. Discrete charge distributions may require more complex calculations due to the need to account for individual point charges.