Investigatory

Physics
Project
INDEX

Name: KISHORA SREE.R

Class: XII B7
Topic: Gauss’s Law
 INDEX
1)Aim
2) Concepts Used
3) HISTORY OF GAUSS LAW
4) GAUSS LAW
5) APPLICATIONS OF GAUSS
LAW
6) Gauss' Law of Magnetism
7) Real Life Applications of
Gauss Law
8) Problems on Gauss law
9) Reference
Aim:
The aim of this project is to say about the well-known Gauss
theorem .

Concepts Used:
1) History
2)Gauss law
3) Gauss law formula
4) Applications
5) Magnetism
6) Real Life Applications
 Introduction
Gauss law :
In its integral form, it states that
the flux of the electric field out of an arbitrary closed
surface is proportional to the electric charge
enclosed by the surface, irrespective of how that
charge is distributed.

Gauss law can also says like:

the electric flux through a
closed surface = total enclosed charge divided by electrical
permittivity of vacuum.

Gauss's law may be expressed as:

ϕ=Q/ϵ 0
 ApplicAtions of GAuss’s lAw

1)Electric field due to Uniformly charged Straight wire:

Suppose we take a uniformly charged straight
wire with a linear charge density λ and Length (L). We would assume a cylindrical Gaussian
surface to calculate the electric field. The electric flux across the end of the cylindrical surface
would be zero because the electric field E is circular in direction. This is because the area vecto r
and the electric field are perpendicular. It is seen that the electric field is upright to each point of
the curved surface; it can be said that it has a constant magnitude.If 2πrl gives the surface area
of the cylindrical surface, then the electric flux through the curve would be

E × 2πrl
According to Gauss’ s Law:
Φ = q/ ε0

E × 2πrl = λl/ ε0

E = λ / 2π ε0r
It must be remembered that if the charge of linear density is positive, then the direction of the electric field would be
radially outward.

2)Electric field because of Uniformly charged Infinite plate sheet:

If we consider a uniformly charged infinite plate sheet that has a surface charge density σ with a cross-sectional area A.
The infinite charges sheet will cause the direction of the electric field to be perpendicular to the plane of th e sheet. If
we take a cylindrical Gaussian surface that has its axis normal to the plane of the sheet, So by Gauss’s Law:
 2EA = σ A/ ε0
E = σ / 2 ε0
The unit vector, which is expected to surface 1, is in the –x-direction, and the unit vector, which is expected to surface
two, would be in the +x direction. Hence, the fluxes from both the surfaces would be equal and add up. So, the total
flux through the Gaussian surface would be 2 EA. The closed surface enclosing the charge is σ A.

3) Electric Field because of a uniformly charged thin spherical shell:

If we assume a thin spherical shell with radius R and σ is its uniform surface charge density, At any point P,
whether inside or outside, the field may depend only on r, and it should be radial.

The field outside the shell:

Suppose we consider a point P outside the shell with a radius vector r.
In order to calcula te E, at point P, we would take the Gaussian surface that is a s phere with radius r, and its centre is O
which would pass through P. Every point on this sphere is equally relative to the configuration of the given charge. At
every point of the Gaussian surface, the electric field would have the same intensity E and is radial at each point.So, E
and ΔS would be parallel at every point, and the flux through every element would be E ΔS. The flux across the
Gaussian surface would be

E × 4 πε0 r2
σ × 4 π R2 is the charge enclosed in it.
 Gauss' Law of Magnetism:

1. Carl Friedrich Gauss first proposed the Gauss Law in 1835, which connected the electric fields at points on a
closed surface to the net charge encompassed by that surface.

2.Gauss’ Law for magnetis m applies to the magnetic flux through a closed surface. Here the area vector points
out from the surface. Because magnetic field lines are continuous loops, all closed surf aces have as many magnetic
field lines going in as coming out. Hence, the net magnetic flux through a closed surface is zero.

3.Net flux is given mathematically by the expression

corresponds to Magnetic Field, and A represents the surface area .

Hence, Gauss Law of Magnetis m essentially s tates that the flux through a closed surface/loop is zero.
 Real Life Applications of Gauss Law

1)Medical Imaging Technology:

Gauss's La w is not the main part of M RI and X-ray ma chines, bu t it

helps unders tand the electric fields used in them. These machines work by applying electric fields to interact with
atoms in the body, creating ima ges. Gauss's Law helps s cientis ts unders tand these fields better, which is important
for ma king medical imaging methods more a ccurate and useful

2) Particle Accelerator Design:

Electr ic fields push charged particles in devices like particle a ccelerators

and in medical treatments like radia tion therapy. Engineers use Gauss's La w to des ign electrodes that crea te these
fields. By using Gauss's La w to shape the electrodes, scientists can ma ke particle acceleration more precise and
effective.
 History of Gauss law

The law was first formulated by Joseph-Louis Lagrange in 1773,

followed by Carl Friedrich Gauss in 1835, both in the context of
the attraction of ellipsoids. It is one of Maxwell's equations, which
forms the basis of classical electrodynamics. Gauss's law can be
used to derive Coulomb's law, and vice versa.

Joseph Louis Lagrange

Carl Friedrich Gauss

 Problems on Gauss law

1)Two very long lines of charge are parallel to each other, separated by a distance x. They each
have the same linear charge density. One is positive and the other is negative.
a) What is the magnitude of the E-field at a point half-way between the lines of charge?
b) How does the E-field at a point x/3 from the the the positive charge line (and 2x/3 from the
negative charge line) compare to the E-field x/3 from the negative charge line (and 2x/3 from the
positive charge line).

SOLUTION
a) Each line would contribute to the E-field equally and in the same direction.
E = 2(λ/2πε or) = λ/πε o(x/2) = 2λ/πε ox

b) Each point will have the same magnitude and direction for the E-field.
E = E+ + E- = (λ/2πε o(x/3)) + (λ/2πε o(2x/3))
E = (3λ/2πε ox) + (3λ/4πε ox)
E = 9λ/4πε ox (magnitude)

2)A cubic space (1.5 m on each side) contains positively charged particles. Imagine that the
space is surrounded by a Gaussian surface of the exact same dimension as the cube and that
the E-Field caused by the charges is normal to the faces o f the Gaussian cube. If the E-field at
each surface has a magnitude of 760 N/C, determine the number of charges per unit volume in
the space described (ie., find the charge density,ρ).

SOLUTION
Φnet = EAcos0 = q/εo
760(6)(1.5)2 = q/8.85x10-12
q = 9.1x10-8C
Now find the volume of the cube:
V = (1.5)3 = 3.375 m3
Finally, determine the charge density:
ρ = q/V = 9.1x10-8/3.375 = 2.7x10-8C/m3
 Reference

1) https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/leph101.pdf
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauss%27s_law
3) https://unacademy.com/content/neet-ug/study-
material/physics/a-brief-note-on-the-applications-of-gauss-
theorem/#:~:text=Gauss's%20law%20is%20one%20of%20th
e%20four%20equations%20of%20electricity,a%20low%20un
iformly%20charged%20sphere.
4) https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/real-life-applications-
of-gauss-
law/#:~:text=Gauss's%20Law%20helps%20us%20understan
d%20and%20control%20electric%20fields%20in,and%20en
hancing%20medical%20imaging%20techniques.
5) https://physics-prep.com/index.php/practice-problems-
applications-of-gauss-s-law?view=article&id=615:practice-
problems-applications-of-gauss-s-law-
solutions&catid=14:introductory-units