Why does Gauss' law hold for any closed surface?

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Physgeek64
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Why does Gauss' law hold for any closed surface? and can you show this mathematically.

Many thanks :)
 
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Chapter 1 in Classical Electrodynamics by J. D. Jackson provides this derivation.
 
Physgeek64 said:
can you show this mathematically.
Starting from what assumptions?

Also, a Google search for "proof of Gauss law" turns up a number of pages which may contain what you're looking for, including a number of previous threads here on PF. :oldwink:
 
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