Help Needed: Understanding Gauss's Law and Electric Field

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around Gauss's Law and the concept of electric fields, specifically addressing the participant's confusion regarding the cancellation of electric field lines and the implications for net electric field strength. The scope includes conceptual understanding and clarification of theoretical principles related to electric fields and flux.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about why the net electric field is not zero if field lines can be canceled, referencing Gauss's Law and a specific online resource.
  • Another participant questions the notion of canceling field lines, asking for clarification on what is being canceled.
  • A further reply seeks to clarify the original question by emphasizing that the link describes the electric field from a point charge, prompting a discussion about the direction of field lines.
  • One participant attempts to clarify that while field lines may have opposite directions, they do not all cancel out when considering the flux through a surface, as all field lines are directed the same way through that surface.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion reflects a lack of consensus, with participants seeking clarification and expressing differing interpretations of the concepts related to electric fields and Gauss's Law.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the assumptions regarding the cancellation of field lines and the implications for net electric field strength. The discussion relies on the definitions of electric flux and field lines, which may not be universally understood among participants.

eRa
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Hi there,

I have a question for you guys. It might sound stupid, but I don't get the material; my teacher can't teach! and your help is very appreciated

I am reading about Gauss's law where they come to the conclusion that flux=charge/Eo

as in this link http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/electric/elesph.html

my question is why won't the net electric field be zero since we can cancel the field lines?

Thanks in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
eRa said:
we can cancel the field lines?

With what?
 
eRa said:
my question is why won't the net electric field be zero since we can cancel the field lines?
Why won't the net electric field of what be zero? What field lines are canceling?

(That link describes the field from a point charge.)
 
hi.. sorry I didn't mean to be unclear

True ,, the link describes the field from a point charge so each field line has another field line that is in the opposite direction.. so why don't all the field lines cancel?
I am sorry I don't know how to explain it better
 
Welcome to PF!

Hi eRa! Welcome to PF! :smile:
eRa said:
I am reading about Gauss's law where they come to the conclusion that flux=charge/Eo
…
the link describes the field from a point charge so each field line has another field line that is in the opposite direction.. so why don't all the field lines cancel?

Flux is through a surface …

all the field lines in the diagram are going the same way through that surface. :wink:
 

Similar threads

High School Electric Fields inside Conductors & Gauss' Law
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
High School Electric Field Created by a Finite Plate
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Gauss' Law - Does it apply even when there are external fields?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Undergrad Gauss' law seems to imply instantaneous electric field propagation
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
2K
Undergrad Another way of stating Gauss' law?
  • · Replies 83 ·
3
Replies
83
Views
5K
Undergrad Conditions for applying Gauss' Law
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad What is Electric Flux and How is it Calculated?
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
Undergrad Is it possible to apply Gauss' law to a Klein bottle?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Undergrad Why Do We Consider External Electric Fields in Gauss' Law Calculations?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Undergrad Electric field calculated by gauss law
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K