EE2030, Electromagnetics I

Lecture 6
Electrostatic Fields
 Electric flux density

• From the electric field intensity 𝐸 we define the electric flux

density 𝐷
• 𝐷 = 𝜀𝑜 𝐸 (simply multiply 𝐸 by the permittivity 𝜀𝑜 )
• The electric flux density 𝐷 gives the density of the electric flux
(how many lines of electric flux per m2)
• The total flux passing from a certain surface S is calculated
from the integration:
   D dS
S
S
E and D

2
 Example#1

Find the electric flux density at a point having a

distance 3 m from a uniform line charge of 8 nC/m lying
along the z axis in free space.

L L 8 109 1.273 109

E a  D  a  a  a  C m2
2 0  2 2 

For the value ρ = 3 m,

1.273 109
D  4.244 1010 a  C m2  0.424a nC m2
3

Prepared By: Dr.Ziad Elahlwany_2018 3

 Example#2

Calculate D at point P(6,8,–10) produced by a uniform

surface charge density with ρs = 57.2 μC/m2 on the plane x =
9.

s s 57.2 106
E aN  D  aN  a N  28.6a N C m2
2 0 2 2

At P(6,8,–10),
a N = a x  D  28.6a x  C m2
 Gauss’s Law – Maxwell’s Equation
• The law states: Total flux  through any closed surface is equal
to the total charge enclosed by that surface
• Total flux passing through surface = Total enclosed charge
  Qenc

  D.d S Qenc
S Qenc   D  d S    dv
v
Closed Surface

Qenc   v dv
S v

v
• Applying the divergence theorem

 D  d S     D dv
S v

• Comparing the two integrals we get the first Maxwell’s

equation:
v    D
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 Gauss’s Law, cont.
• Gauss law has two forms: integral form and point form:
Qenc   D  d S    dv
S v
v v    D
• The point form is also first Maxwell’s equation
• Gauss law is easier for calculating the electric field intensity 𝐸 and the
electric flux density 𝐷 for symmetrical charge distribution
• Note that Qenc is the enclosed charged. In the figure below Qenc=0
• In this figure the flux in = the flux out
• Hence, total flux crossing the surface = 0 and Qenc=0


Qenc=0

 D  d S    dv  0
S v
v
Q

Closed Surface

6
 Applications of Gauss law

• Gauss law is useful to find 𝐷 and 𝐸 = 𝐷 𝜀𝑜 due to

symmetrical charge distribution
• In this case we know in advance, from symmetry, the direction
of the electric field
• We select a closed surface such that the electric field is
uniform on this surface
• We apply Gauss law and we easily find 𝐷 and 𝐸
• We can use Coulombs law, but Gauss law is easier in this case

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 Electric field due to a point charge

Find 𝐷 due to a point charge Q located at the origin

• We can choose a the surface to be a sphere with radius r
centered by the charge Q
• Due to symmetry the flux density is equal in all directions
• Hence, 𝐷 = 𝐷𝑟 𝑎𝑟
z

Qenc   DdS
S Sphere D  Dr aˆr
Q
Q   Dr aˆr  d S Dr 
S
4 r 2 Q
y

Q
 Dr  dS D aˆ
S 4 r 2 r

 Dr  4 r 2  x

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 Electric field due to an infinite line charge
• We have an infinite line charge with uniform charge distribution l C/m
• We select the surface to be an infinite cylinder centered by the line charge
• From symmetry, the electric charge density is constant on the surface and
it is the direction of 𝐷 = 𝐷𝜌 𝑎𝜌
• The field crossing the upper and lower surface = 0
• Apply Gauss law on a length l of the cylinder

Qenc   DdS
S z

l l   D aˆ  d S l l Cylinder
Dl 
S 2 l D  D aˆ 

 D  dS 
D  l aˆ  y
2
S

 D  2 l 
x
9
 Example#3

A 50-cm length of coaxial cable has an inner radius of 1 mm

and an outer radius of 4 mm. The space between conductors
is assumed to be filled with air. The total charge on the
inner conductor is 30 nC. Find the charge density on each
conductor and the expressions for E and D fields.

Qinner cyl  2 aLS ,inner cyl Qouter cyl  2 bLS ,outer cyl  Qinner cyl
Qinner cyl Qinner cyl
  S ,inner cyl    S ,outer cyl 
2 aL 2 bL
30 109 30 109
 
2 (103 )(0.5) 2 (4 103 )(0.5)
 9.55  C m2  2.39  C m2
  S ,inner cyl D
D  a E 
 0
3 (9.55 106 ) 9.55 109
 10 
 8.854 1012 
9.55 1079
 nC m 2  V m
 
 Electric field due to an infinite sheet of charge

Find the electric field intensity 𝐸 due to infinite sheet with surface charge
density S placed on z=0 plane.
Solution:
• Set the Gaussian surface as a rectangular box with the sheet at the middle
• Since the surface is infinite then 𝐷 is normal to the sheet
• On the upper side 𝐷 = 𝐷𝑧 𝑎𝑧 . On the lower side 𝐷 = −𝐷𝑧 𝑎𝑧
• Apply Gauss law:
Qenc   DdS
S

s A  D
top
z aˆ z  d S     D aˆ   d S
bottom
z z

 Dz  aˆ
top
z  dS aˆ z  Dz   aˆ    aˆ
bottom
z z dS   2 Dz A

S S
Dtop  aˆ z and Dbottom   aˆ z
2 2
S S
Etop  aˆ z and Ebottom   aˆ z
12 2 o 2 o
 Electric field due to a uniformly charged sphere

A sphere with radius a and uniform volume charge density V centered by the
origin. Find 𝐸 inside and outside the sphere.
Solution:
• To find the 𝐸 inside the sphere we put a Gaussian surface as a sphere with
radius r  a .
• Due to symmetry 𝐷 = 𝐷𝑟 𝑎𝑟 . Applying Gauss law:
Qenc   DdS
S
Gauss Surface

4 r 3
v   Dr aˆr  d S  Dr  aˆr  dS aˆr
3 a
 Dr 4 r 2
r
v r
Dr 
3
v r v r
D aˆr and E aˆr
3 3 o
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 Electric field due to a uniformly charged sphere

• To find the 𝐸 outside the sphere we put a Gaussian surface as a sphere

with radius r  a . Gauss Surface
• Due to symmetry 𝐷 = 𝐷𝑟 𝑎𝑟 . Applying Gauss law:

Qenc   DdS
S
a

4 a 3 r
v   Dr aˆr  d S  Dr  aˆr  dS aˆr
3
 Dr 4 r 2
v a3
Dr 
3r 2
v a 3 v a 3
D aˆr and E  aˆr
3r 2 3 o r 2  v r
 3 aˆr ra
D
 v a aˆ
3
ra
 3r 2 r
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