Dr. M. M.

Abdel Aziz

Chapter (3)

Electric Flux, Electric Flux Density, Gauss’s Law,

Divergence Theorem

3.1 Introduction

We shall introduce here the concept of electric flux and electric flux density. This will
lead to Gauss's law, divergence and divergence theorem. Through the use of Gauss's law,
we will be able to solve many problems possessing charge symmetry with the aid of
many solved examples.

3.2 Electric Flux ψE

E
E
+Q E E E +Q

(a) (b)
Fig.1

Fig.1a shows a plot of a vector force field E (electric field intensity) at discrete points about
+Q point charge, whereas Fig. 1b shows a system of lines about the same point charge. We
shall call these lines electric flux lines or simply electric flux.
The electric flux concept is based on the following rules:

1- Electric flux begins from (+ve) charge and ends on (-ve) charge
2- Electric field at a point is tangent to the electric flux line passing with this point .

Fig.2

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

3-In the absence of (-ve) charge the electric flux terminates at infinity.
4- The flux density is proportional to the magnitude of E field.
5- The number of electric flux lines from a (+ve) charge Q is equal to Q in SI unit

i.e ψE = Q ( C or lines )

3.2 Electric Flux Density D (displacement vector)

In free space, the electric flux density vector D is defined to be in the same direction as
the electric flux lines (same as E ) and to have magnitude
 E
As: D  lim lines/m2,
s 0 s

Where: ΔψE equals the number of electric lines that are  to the surface Δs
In Fig.2 dψE through a surface ds can be expressed as :

Note that the flux dψE will be maximum when ds and D are in the same direction
If we locate a point charge +Q at the origin of a sphere of radius r s, we can evaluate D as
follows:
E  Q 
D r  rs lines/m2 or C/m2
4 rs2 s
4 rs2
The expression for E on the surface at r s is

Q 
E rs V/m
4 r 0 s
2

From the above two equations, we have

( free space )

Example 1

Find the electric flux ψE that passes through the surface

 
shown in the figure. Where: D   y x  x y 10 2 Cm 2 (3,2,0)

Solution

d E  D . ds lines or C
  
d E  D  ds  ( yx  xy )  10 2. dxdz y
 10 2 xdxdz
 E   d E   D  ds
3
2 3
 x2 
 E    10 xdxdz  10   z 0  10 2  2  9  10 2 C or line
2 22 9
0 0  2 0 2

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

3.4 Gauss’s law

Gauss’s law states that:
" the total flux out of a closed surface is equal to the net charges within the
surface. "
The total flux ψE is given by
E   dE   D  ds  Qen (C )
s s
Thus the mathematical form of Gauss’s law is

Qen is the charge enclosed by the surface s.

The Qen enclosed by surface s due to a ρv distribution is

Example 2
Through the use of Gauss’s law find D and E about a point charge Q

Solution
 D .d s  Q
s
s en (C )

Construct a spherical closed surface about the point charge Q as shown in Fig.3
This surface will be called ‘ Gaussian surface’
From symmetry

Ds  Drs rˆs , ds  ds rs
 
 Ds .d s   Drs rs . dsrs   Drs ds  Qen (C )
s s s
At a fixed range Drs is constant

D
s
rs ds  Drs  ds  Qen  Q
s
(C )


Drs 4 rs  Q
2

Q
Drs 
4 rs2
Q  D Q  Fig.3
D r (C / m 2 ), E  rs (V / m)
4rs2 s
0 4 r
0 s
2

Example 3

Find the electric flux density at a point ( r c ,  , z ) due to an infinite charged line of
ρL located along the z-axis.

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

Solution:

 D .d s  Q
s
s en (C )

Construct a Gaussian closed surface concentric about the infinite length line as shown
 D .d s   D .d s   D .d s   D .d s
s s s s
stop sbottom s side z

+
(rc,Φ,z)
The integrals over the top and bottom
+
surfaces are zero since D, and ds are +
perpendicular. Thus: ++
L 2 +
Ds   rc d dz  Ds 2 r c L  Qen   L L +
0 0
++ rc
+ L
2 r c L.Ds   L .L +
+
L + y
D rˆc (C / m 2 ) +
2 r c +
+
L
And E rˆ
2 r c  0 c
Fig.4
Notes
1- The integration over the top and bottom surfaces are zero
since D and ds are perpendicular. And Ds = Drc is constant and
can be taken out of the integral sine.
2- This result agrees with that obtained before

Example 4

Find D and E inside and outside a sphere of radius (a) with surface charge
density ρs.

Solution: Gauss surface

rs
 D .d s  Q
s en (C ) + + + +
+
s +
Region I: rs < a ( inside the sphere ) rs +
+
Qen = 0 a +
+ +
+ a
D.4 rs2  0 +
Gauss surface
++ + +
D  0  E , E  0
Region II: rs > a ( outside the sphere )
E
D.4 r   s .4 a
s
2 2

rs
s a2
D  rˆs   o E
rs2
s a2
E  rˆs
 o rs2

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

Example 5
Find D and E in all regions for a spherical shell of radii a, b and volume charge
density ρv .
Solution:
Region I : rs  a
b
 D  d s  Qen
a
D  4rs  zero
2

D  zero III
I
E  zero I
Region II : a  rs  b II

 Dds  Q en
rs

4 4 
D  4 rs    rs   a 3  
2 2

3 3 

D E  s
r  a 
3 3

rˆs C / m 2

2
3rs

E
r
 a 3 
3
rˆs V / m
s 
3 o rs
2

Region III : rs  b
4 4 
D  4rs    b 3  a 3 
2

3 3 

D   E  
b a
3 3
rˆs
 
2
3rs
Example 6
In the figure shown, find the electric field intensity in all regions. Given a thick
cylindrical shell of radii a, b and charge density Ρ v.

Solution b
a
Region I : rc  a

 D.d S  Q en

D  2 rc .L  0
D E (I) (II) (III) L
E 0

Region II : a  rc  b

 D d s  Qen

D  2 rc  L   rc L   a 2 L 
2

D
r  a 
c
2 2

rˆc   o E
2rc

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

Region III : rc  b

 D.d S   Q en


D  2 rc L   b 2 L  a 2 L 
D
 b  a2
2

rˆc   o E
2rc
Example 7
Find the electric field intensity in all regions for the following charge
configurations:
- Point charge Q is located at the center.
- Conducting sphere of radius a and charge density ρs .
- A volume charge of ρv in a spherical shell of radii b, c.

Solution:

Region I : rs  a

 D. d s  Q en

D  4 rs  Q
2

Q b
D  o E  rˆs + II+
4 rs
2
+ + +a
I + D
V + (x +
+ Q +
Region II : a  rs  b +
+
+ + + +
DdS  Q en s
c
D  4 rs  Q  4 a 2   s
2

v
Q  4 a 2  s
D rˆs   o E
4 rs
2

Region III : b  rs  c

 DdS  Q en

4  3
 o E  D  4 rs 2  Q  4 a 2  s 
3
rs  b 3  
Q  4 a 2  s 
4
3

rs  b 3
3
 
D  o E 
4 rs
2

Region IV : rs  c

 DdS  Q en

4  2
 o E  D  4 rs 2  Q  4a 2  s 
3
c  b3 
4  2
Q  4 a 2  s 
3
c  b3 
D  oE 
4 rs
2

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

3.5 Divergence
Let us apply Gauss’s law to a point p(xo,yo,zo) in a D field that has been produced by
some system of charge distribution . A portion of this D field is shown in Fig.6a with a
small cubical Gaussian surface enclosing at its center the point. The electric field density
D crossing the cube surface at this point is given by:
D  Dxo xˆ  Dyo yˆ  Dzo zˆ
This cubical surface encloses the volume Δv = Δx. Δy. Δz
A single face (Δx . Δy) sketch of the small cube is shown in Fig.6b

Δy D(x) D(x+x)
D(x+x)
Δz dS dS
y
x
D P(x0 , y0 , z0 )
Δx

x
(a) (b)
Fig.6

In order to express  D  dS for the cube, all six faces must be taken, the direction of d s
is outward since the faces are normal to the three axes.

s
 Dds   Dds   Dds   Dds   Dds
s ( front) s ( back) s ( right) s ( left )

  Dds   Dds  Q
s ( top) s ( bottom)
en

Only one component of D will cross any two surfaces. We take at the first the surface
in +x direction and in –x direction.
 D  d s   D  d s  D front  s front  Dback  s backt
s ( front) s ( back)
   
 D x ( front) x  yzx  D x (back) x  (yz ) x
 D x ( front) yz  D x (back) yz
 ( D x ( front)  D x (back) ) yz

Using the first two terms of Taylor expansion for D x about the point (x0, y0, z0), we
have

D
Dx  x   Dx 0  x  
x
D x D x
Dxfront  Dx 0  x ( ), Dxback  Dx 0  x ( ),
x 2 x 2

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

Dx
 Dds   Dds 
s ( front) s ( back)
x
xyz

Following the same procedure, we find that:

D y
Dds  Dds 
s ( right) s ( left )
y
xyz

Dz
 Dds   Dds 
s ( top) s ( bottom)
z
xyz

Dx D y Dz
Dds  (
s
x

y

z
)xyz  Qen

Divide by Δv = Δx.Δy.Δz and take the limit when Δv 0

 D  ds Dx D y Dz Q
lim s
(   )  lim en
V 0 v x y z V 0
v

Dx D y Dz Q
Div D  (   ) and lim v0 en   v
x y z v

Thus

and
v
E 
(V / m 2 )
0
Thus the divergence of a vector D in cartisian is defined as:

The divergence of D will be expressed in cylindrical and spherical coordinates as:

Example 8
Above an infinite sheet of uniform ρs distribution in the z = 0 plane, D = (ρs/2) z (C/m2).
Evaluate   D above the sheet and from the flux plot explain the correctness of the
answer.

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

Solution , Fig. 7
Dx D y Dz 
D  (   )  (  s / 2)  0
x y z z

z
Δv
ρv
D = ρs/2 z
Flux lines
Uniform ρs

x y
D = - ρs/2 z

Fig. 7
Thus   D    0
If we locate small cube within the D field as shown , we will note the net flux out from
the surface of the cube is zero. Thus no charge is present within the cube which leads to
ρs = 0 as the volume shrinks to zero.

3.6 Divergence Theorem

We have  Dds  Q
en

Now , let Qen    dv

v

And using  v    D
We obtain

This is the mathematical statement of the divergence theorem. The divergence

theorem relates a closed surface integral to the volume integral

Example 9 z
Given D  10 2 x 2 y xˆ C / m 2 evaluate
both sides of the divergence theorem
for the volume of cube measuring 1m
on each side and located as shown
in the figure. D
1m
y=3
1m y
1m

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

Solution:
 D  d s     D dv
L.H .S   D  d s
1 3
 
  (10 yx )  (dydzx )    10 2 ydydz  0.025 C
2

sfront 0 2
Where x = 1 on this surface

R.H .S     D dv
Where
Dx D y Dz 
D  (   )  (10 2 x 2 y)  0.02 xy
x y z x
Substituting into the above equation, we have
1 3 1

   D dv     0.2 xydxdydz  0.025 C

0 2 0

Example 10
2
5rs
Given D  rˆs evaluate both sides of divergence theorem for volume:
4

r  4m ,  
4
As shown in the following figure
z

r = 4m
θ
θ= 45o
y

Solution:

 D  d s     D dv
L.H .S   D  d s

2 4 2
5rs
 0 0 4 rˆs  rˆs sin dd , rs  4m

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 Dr. M. M. Abdel Aziz

54 4 54
2 2 2 
   sin d   d  2  cos  04
4 0 0
4
 589.1 C
1   2 5rs 2 
D  rs 
rs rs
2
 4 
5
  4rs  5rs
3
2
4rs

2 4 4
RHS     D dv     5r  rs sin drs d d
2
s
0 0 0
4 
5rs
  cos  04  2  589.1C
4

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