What is the Flux Through Each Face of a Cube with a Corner Point Charge?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a point charge placed at a corner of a cube, and participants are discussing how to determine the electric flux through each face of the cube using Gauss's Law and symmetry considerations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using Gauss's Law and symmetry arguments to find the flux. There are questions about the total flux through the cube and how it relates to the charge present. Some participants express confusion regarding the calculations and the application of symmetry.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with some participants clarifying their understanding of the problem. There is a mix of interpretations regarding the total flux and its distribution across the cube's faces, but no consensus has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the implications of having a point charge at a corner and how that affects the flux through the cube's faces, indicating potential assumptions about symmetry and charge distribution that may need further exploration.

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Homework Statement



A point charge q is placed at one corner of a cube of edge a. What is the flux through each of the cube faces?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I drew a diagram of the situation. I'm pretty sure that I should use Gauss' Law and some symmetry arguments but I am not sure how to integrate over the cubes faces taking into account that the electric field produced by the point charge is radially outwards, like a sphere cutting through the face of the cube ( poorly described I know, sorry).

Thanks for the help.
 
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By Gauss's Law, the flux through the whole cube is just 6q/\epsilon_0. Now, apply a simple symmetry argument to get the answer.
 
I'm not sure why is it 6q ? If there is only one charge of magnitude 1q surely the flux is

<br /> q/\epsilon_0 <br />
 
Right: The total flux from that charge is just q/ε0. So what's the total flux through the cube? Through each face of the cube? (No integration needed, just symmetry.)
 
Ah right I see now. Thanks very much, was thinking about this completely the wrong way.
 
Ed Aboud said:
Ah right I see now. Thanks very much, was thinking about this completely the wrong way.

So...
What is the answer you are getting?
 

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