Find Electric Flux Through Surface 2

In summary, the problem involves finding the magnitude of electric flux through surface (2) given the area and electric field of two intersecting planar surfaces. Using Gauss' Law, the correct angle to use is the angle between the electric field and the line perpendicular to the area of surface (2). The correct answer is 638.9 Nm²/C.
  • #1
cass
4
0

Homework Statement



The drawing shows an edge-on view of two planar surfaces that intersect and are mutually perpendicular. Surface (1) has an area of 2.20 m², while surface (2) has an area of 3.90 m². The electric field in the drawing is uniform and has a magnitude of 200 N/C. Find the magnitude of the electric flux through surface (2) if the angle θ made between the electric field with surface (2) is 35.0°.
18-81.jpg

Homework Equations



I used gausse law

The Attempt at a Solution



(200)(2.20)cos(35)=360.4
(200)(3.90)cos(35)=638.9
Sinnce they are looking for magnitude of surface 2 I thought the answer was 638.9 but I got it wrong.[/B]
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF!

You used cos(35) when calculating the flux through surface 2. Think about whether or not you used the correct angle here.
 
  • #3
what do u mean?
 
  • #4
ok since it is a 90 degree angle then subtracting 35 should give me 55 right?
 
  • #5
cass said:
ok since it is a 90 degree angle then subtracting 35 should give me 55 right?
Yes, using Gauss' Law, EAcosθ, where θ refers to the angle between the electric field's direction and the line perpendicular to the area of application (which is the dot product of E and A, E⋅A)
 
  • #6
thank u!
 

Related to Find Electric Flux Through Surface 2

1. What is electric flux?

Electric flux is a measure of the flow of an electric field through a given area. It is represented by the symbol Φ and is measured in units of volts per meter (V/m).

2. What is a surface in the context of electric flux?

A surface in the context of electric flux is any closed or open 2-dimensional region in space that is used to calculate the electric flux passing through it. It can be a flat or curved surface and can have any shape or size.

3. How do you calculate electric flux through a surface?

To calculate electric flux through a surface, you can use the formula Φ = E * A * cos(θ), where E is the electric field, A is the area of the surface, and θ is the angle between the electric field and the surface normal. Alternatively, you can also use the Gauss's Law to calculate electric flux, which states that the electric flux through a closed surface is equal to the enclosed charge divided by the permittivity of free space.

4. What is the significance of finding electric flux through a surface?

Finding electric flux through a surface is important because it helps us understand the strength and direction of an electric field. It also allows us to calculate the amount of electric charge enclosed by a surface, which is useful in many applications such as circuit analysis and electromagnetism.

5. How does the orientation of the surface affect the electric flux?

The orientation of the surface with respect to the electric field can affect the electric flux. If the surface is perpendicular to the electric field, the electric flux passing through it will be at its maximum. However, if the surface is at an angle to the electric field, the electric flux will be reduced, as indicated by the cosine term in the formula for electric flux. Therefore, it is important to consider the orientation of the surface when calculating electric flux.

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