What instruments did gauss use to measure flux / electric fields?

[robinhood20]

Gauss equations state that the flux of a gaussian surface is equal to the sum of all the electric field times the surface area.

Although he stated this in theory, how was he able to prove it possible. What measuring device do people use to prove that this theory is correct?

 

[K^2]

It's a purely mathematical result derived from Coulomb's Law. Gauss did not make any measurements to arrive at it.

 

[robinhood20]

I thought Coulomb's law was just a special case of gauss law.

I am pretty sure they had to have had used something to measure the charge of an object and its flux to come up with the permittivity constant and etc.

 

[Jorriss]

I thought Coulomb's law was just a special case of gauss law.

Coulomb's law was known long before gauss's law.

 

[sardar]

Gauss used various instruments to measure flux and electric fields, including the electrometer, which measures the strength of electric fields, and the galvanometer, which measures the flow of electric current. He also used a device called the torsion balance, which uses a suspended wire to measure the strength of electric fields.

To prove his theory, Gauss conducted experiments using these instruments to measure the flux and electric fields on different surfaces and compared the results to his equations. He also used mathematical calculations and equations to further support his theory.

In modern times, scientists use advanced instruments such as the fluxmeter, which directly measures the electric flux, and the voltmeter, which measures the potential difference between two points and can be used to calculate the electric field. These instruments, along with computer simulations and mathematical modeling, allow us to further validate Gauss's theory and its applications in various fields of science and technology.