CHAPTER 3

ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY

GAUSS’S LAW
DIVERGENCE
 ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY
Electric flux density is a measure of the strength of
an electric field generated by a free electric charge,
corresponding to the number of electric lines of force
passing through a given area. Electric flux density is
the amount of flux passing through a defined area
that is perpendicular to the direction of the flux
Formulas
ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY
• Point Charge
ψ 𝑄
𝐷= 𝑎Ԧ = 𝑎Ԧ (𝐶ൗ𝑚²)
4π𝑟² 4π𝑟²
• Infinite Line Charge
A = 2πρh
ρ𝐿К 𝐶
𝐷= 𝑎Ԧ ( ൗ𝑚²)
2πρК
• Infinite Sheet Charge
ρ𝑠
𝐷= 𝑎Ԧ
2
Example

Given a 60µC point charge located at the origin,

find the total electric flux through portion of:
𝜋 𝜋
a) The sphere r=26cm bounded by 0<θ< and 0<Ø<
2 2
b) The closed surface defined by ρ=26cm and z=±26cm
c) The Plane z=26cm

1
a) ψ= (60µC)
8
ψ=7.5µC
b) ψ= 60µC
1
c) ψ= (60µC)
2
ψ=30µC
Calculate the electric flux density in rectangular coordinates at
point P(2, -3, 6)m produced by
a) point charge Q=55mC at Q(-2, 3, -6)m
b) Uniform line charge ρL=20mC/m on x-axis
c) Uniform surface charge density ρL=120µC/m²
on the plane z=-5m

a) 𝑅𝑄𝑃 = (2+2)𝑎𝑥+(-3-3)𝑎𝑦+(6+6)𝑎𝑧
𝑅𝑄𝑃 = 4𝑎𝑥-6𝑎𝑦+12𝑎𝑧
𝑅𝑄𝑃 = 4² + 6² + 12² = 14m

𝑄 55𝑥10−3 4𝑎 −6𝑎𝑦+12𝑎𝑧
𝐷= 𝑎 = ( 𝑥 )
4π𝑟² 𝑟 4π(14)² 14

𝐷 = 6.3801𝑎𝑥-9.5102𝑎𝑦+19.1404𝑎𝑧 (µ𝐶ൗ𝑚²)
Calculate the electric flux density in rectangular coordinates at
point P(2, -3, 6)m produced by

b) Uniform line charge ρL=20mC/m on x-axis

b) 𝑅 = (2-2)𝑎𝑥 +(-3-0)𝑎𝑦+(6-0)𝑎𝑧
𝑅 = -3𝑎𝑦+6𝑎𝑧
𝑅 = 3² + 6² = 45

ρ𝐿К 20𝑥10−3 −3𝑎𝑦+6𝑎𝑧

𝐷= 𝑎Ԧ = ( )
2πρК 2π( 45) 45
𝐷 = -0.212𝑎𝑦+0.424𝑎𝑧 (𝑚𝐶ൗ𝑚²)
Calculate the electric flux density in rectangular coordinates at
point P(2, -3, 6)m produced by

c) Uniform surface charge density ρL=120µC/m²

on the plane z=-5m

ρ𝑠
c) 𝐷 = 𝑎𝑧
2
𝐷 = 120𝑥10−6 𝑎𝑧
𝐷 = 60𝑎𝑧 (µ𝐶ൗ𝑚²)
 GAUSS’S LAW
• States that the total flux passing through any closed
surface is equal to the total charge enclosed by
that surface.

ψ = Qenc = ‫𝑆𝑑 · 𝑠𝐷 ׯ‬
where: ‫ = ׯ‬Closed surface integral
Formulas
FOR SYMMETRICAL CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS
• Point Charge

dS = r²sinθdθdØ
ψ = ‫( 𝑆𝑑 · 𝑠𝐷 ׯ‬r²sinθdθdØ)
Ø=2π θ=π
ψ = ‫׬‬Ø=0 ‫׬‬θ=0 𝐷𝑠 𝑎𝑛 r²sinθdθdØ
π 2π
ψ = 𝐷𝑠 r²[-cosθ] [Ø]
0 0
ψ = 𝐷𝑠 (4πr²) = Qenc

𝑄
𝐷𝑠 =
4π𝑟²
Formulas
FOR SYMMETRICAL CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS
• Line Charge

dS = ρdθdz (lateral)
dS = ρdρdz (top & bottom)

ψ = ‫( 𝑛𝑎 · 𝑠𝐷 ׯ‬ρdθdz)
𝑧=𝐿Τ Ø=2π
ψ = ‫=𝑧׬‬−𝐿Τ2 ‫׬‬Ø=0 𝐷𝑠 𝑎𝑛 ρdθdz
2
𝐿Τ
2π
ψ = 𝐷𝑠 ρ[Ø] [z] 𝐿2
0 − Τ2
ψ = 𝐷𝑠 (2πρL) = Q

𝑄
𝐷𝑠 =
2πρ𝐿

𝐷 = Ԑo𝐸 (for free space)

Example

Given the electric flux density 𝐷 = 0.3r²𝑎𝑥 (𝑛𝐶ൗ𝑚²) in free space,

Find: a) 𝐸 at point (2, 25º, 90º)
b) The total charge within the sphere r=3m
c) The total electric flux leaving the sphere r=4m

a) 𝐷 = Ԑo𝐸
𝐷 (0.3)(2)²𝑥10−9
𝐸= =
Ԑo Ԑo
𝐸 = 135.5291𝑎𝑟 𝑉Τ𝑚
Given the electric flux density 𝐷 = 0.3r²𝑎𝑥 (𝑛𝐶ൗ𝑚²) in free space,
Find: b) The total charge within the sphere r=3m

b) Q = ‫𝑆𝑑 · 𝑠𝐷 ׯ‬
dS = r²sinθdθdØ
Ø=2π θ=π
Q = (0.3)(3)²(3)²‫׬‬Ø=0 ‫׬‬θ=0 sinθdθdØ
π 2π
Q =(0.3)(3)²(3)²[-cosθ] [Ø] x10−9
0 0
Q = 305.3828 nC
Given the electric flux density 𝐷 = 0.3r²𝑎𝑥 (𝑛𝐶ൗ𝑚²) in free space,
Find: c) The total electric flux leaving the sphere r=4m

c) ψ = ‫𝑆𝑑 · 𝑠𝐷 ׯ‬
dS = r²sinθdθdØ
ψ =(0.3)(4)²[4π(4)²] x10−9
ψ = 965.0973 nC
Example

Calculate the total electric flux leaving the cubical surface

formed by the six planes x,y,z = ± 5 if the charge distribution is:
a)Two point charges, 0.1µC at (1,-2,3)m
and 1Τ7µC at (-1,2,-2)
b)A uniform line charge of π µC/m at x=-2m, y=3m
c)Uniform surface charge of 0.1µC/m² on the plane y=3x

𝑦 5 5
x = , x1 = , x 2 = -
3 3 3
5 5
( , 5) & (- , -5)
3 3
d= 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 ² + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1)²
5 5
d= ( − )² + (5 − 5)²
3 3
Calculate the total electric flux leaving the cubical surface
formed by the six planes x,y,z = ± 5 if the charge distribution is:
a)Two point charges, 0.1µC at (1,-2,3)m
and 1Τ7µC at (-1,2,-2)
b)A uniform line charge of π µC/m at x=-2m, y=3m
c)Uniform surface charge of 0.1µC/m² on the plane y=3x

1
a) ψ =Qenc = (0.1+ )x10−6
7
ψ = Qenc = 0.2429µC
b) ψ =Qenc = πx10−6 (10)
ψ = Qenc = 10πµC
10 2
c) ψ =Qenc = 0.1x10 −6
(10)[ + 10 ²]
3
ψ = Qenc = 10.5409µC
 DIFFERENTIAL VOLUME ELEMENTS

FOR RCS

Where ∆x, ∆y, ∆z are very small values

∆x 𝜕𝐷𝑥
‫( = 𝑇𝑁𝑂𝑅𝐹׬‬Dxo + 2
) ∆y∆z
𝑎𝑥
∆x 𝜕𝐷𝑥
‫( = 𝐾𝐶𝐴𝐵׬‬-Dxo +2 𝑎𝑥
) ∆y∆z
𝜕𝐷𝑥
+
‫𝐾𝐶𝐴𝐵׬ 𝑇𝑁𝑂𝑅𝐹׬‬ = ∆x∆y∆z
𝑎𝑥

Repeat the same procedure

for the other sides

∆x∆y∆z
𝜕𝐷𝑥 𝜕𝐷𝑦 𝜕𝐷𝑧
‫ 𝑥𝜕 ( = 𝑆𝑑 · 𝐷 ׯ‬+ 𝜕𝑦
+
𝜕𝑧
)
 DIVERGENCE

In vector calculus, divergence is a vector

operator that produces a scalar field, giving the
quantity of a vector field's source at each point. More
technically, the divergence represents the volume
density of the outward flux of a vector field from an
infinitesimal volume around a given point.
Formulas
FOR RCS:
𝜕𝐷𝑥 𝜕𝐷𝑦 𝜕𝐷𝑧 ‫𝑆𝑑·𝐷 ׯ‬
div 𝐷 = + + = lim = ρv
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 ∆𝑣→0 ∆𝑣
FOR CCS:
1 𝜕 1 𝜕𝐷Ø 𝜕𝐷𝑧
div 𝐷 = (ρDρ) + +
ρ 𝜕ρ ρ 𝜕Ø 𝜕𝑧
FOR SCS:
1 𝜕 1 𝜕 1 𝜕𝐷Ø
div 𝐷 = (r²Dr) + (sinθDθ) +
𝑟² 𝜕𝑟 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛θ 𝜕θ 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛θ 𝜕Ø
Formulas
THE DEL OPERATOR
FOR RCS:
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝛻= 𝑎𝑥+ 𝑎𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
FOR CCS and FOR SCS: Not defined

MAXWELL’S FIRST EQUATION

div 𝐷 = ρv (Point form of Gauss’s Law)

THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM

‫ 𝐷 · 𝛻 ׬ = 𝑆𝑑 · 𝐷 ׯ‬dV
Example

In each of the following parts, find the numerical value for div 𝐷
at the point specified
a) 𝐷 = (2xyz-y²)𝑎𝑥+ (x²z-2xy)𝑎𝑦+ (x²y)𝑎𝑧 at (2,3,-1)
b) 𝐷 = 2ρ²z²sin²Ø𝑎ρ+ ρz²sin2Ø𝑎Ø+ 2ρ²zsin²Ø 𝑎𝑧 𝐶ൗ𝑚²
at (2,110º,-1)
c) 𝐷 = 2rsinθcosØ𝑎𝑟+ rcosθ𝑐𝑜𝑠Ø𝑎θ -rsinØ 𝑎Ø 𝐶ൗ𝑚²
at (15,30º, 50º)
Find the numerical value for div 𝐷 at the point specified
a) 𝐷 = (2xyz-y²)𝑎𝑥+ (x²z-2xy)𝑎𝑦+ (x²y)𝑎𝑧 at (2,3,-1)

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
div 𝐷 = (2xyz-y²) + (x²z-2xy ) + (x²y)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

div 𝐷 = 2𝑦𝑐 − 2𝑥 + 0
div 𝐷 = 2(3)(-3)-2(2) = -10
div 𝐷= -10
Find the numerical value for div 𝐷 at the point specified
b) 𝐷 = 2ρ²z²sin²Ø𝑎ρ+ ρz²sin2Ø𝑎Ø+ 2ρ²zsin²Ø 𝑎𝑧 𝐶ൗ𝑚²
at (2,110º,-1)

1 𝜕 1 𝜕𝐷Ø 𝜕𝐷𝑧
div 𝐷 = (2ρ²z²sin²Ø) + (ρz²sin2Ø )+ (2ρ²zsin²Ø )
ρ 𝜕ρ ρ 𝜕Ø 𝜕𝑧
1 2
div 𝐷 = (4ρz²sin²Ø) + (ρz²cos2Ø )+(2ρ²sin²Ø )
ρ ρ

div 𝐷 = 4(-1)²sin²(110º)+2(-1)²cos[2(110º)]+2(2)²sin²(110º)
div 𝐷 = 9.0642
Find the numerical value for div 𝐷 at the point specified
c) 𝐷 = 2rsinθcosØ𝑎𝑟+ rcosθ𝑐𝑜𝑠Ø𝑎θ -rsinØ 𝑎Ø 𝐶ൗ𝑚²
at (15,30º, 50º)

1 𝜕 1 𝜕 1 𝜕𝐷Ø
div 𝐷 = 𝑟² 𝜕𝑟 (2r³sinθcosØ) + 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛θ 𝜕θ (rsinθcosθ𝑐𝑜𝑠Ø) + 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛θ (-rsinØ )
𝜕Ø
1 1 1
div 𝐷 = 𝑟² (6r²sinθcosØ) + 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛θ (rcosØ𝑐𝑜𝑠2θ) + 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛θ (-rcosØ )
cos 50° cos[2 30° ] cos(50°)
div 𝐷 = 6sin(30º)cos(50º) + sin(30°)
- sin(30°)

div 𝐷 = 1.2856
More examples:

Compute for the electric flux density at (-1,2,4)m due to a

a) 5µC point charge at the origin
b) 3µC/m line charge on the y-axis
c) 2µC/m² sheet charge at the xz plane

a) 𝑅 = -𝑎𝑥 + 2𝑎𝑦 + 4𝑎𝑧

𝑅 = −1 2 + 2² + 4² = 21m
5µ𝐶
𝐷= (-𝑎𝑥 + 2𝑎𝑦 + 4𝑎𝑧)
4π( 21)³

𝐷 = -4.1346𝑎𝑥 + 8.2692𝑎𝑦 + 16.5383𝑎𝑧 nC/m²

Compute for the electric flux density at (-1,2,4)m due to a
b) 3µC/m line charge on the y-axis
c) 2µC/m² sheet charge at the xz plane

b) 𝑅 = -𝑎𝑥 + 4𝑎𝑧
𝑅 = −1 2 + 4² = 17m
3µ𝐶
𝐷= (-𝑎𝑥 + 4𝑎𝑧)
2π( 17)²

𝐷 = -28.0862 + 112.3447𝑎𝑧 nC/m²

2µ𝐶
c) 𝐷 = 𝑎𝑦
2
𝐷 = 𝑎𝑦 nC/m²