Gauss Law and potential Which one to use

[Elumalai]

Given a symmetric Charge distribution where Gauss Law can be applied which method will one select to obtain Electric field. Potential or Gauss Law. I feel that Gauss law must be used because using Gauss law one can calculate electric field easily as compared to Potential. Which is advantageous, Gauss Law or potential.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[jfy4]

Honestly I say it varies considerably. If you are looking far away your treatment will be different, then if you want a general solution. But for general electrostatics, solving possion's equation is a joy, and the laplacian is separable in something like 13 different coordinate systems. Using an orthogonal function expansion is a nice way depending on the symmetry then.