ELECTRIC FLUX AND ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY
The concept of flux describes how much of something goes through a given area. More formally, it is the
dot product of a vector field (the electric field) with an area. You may conceptualize the flux of an electric
field as a measure of the number of electric field lines passing through an area.
The larger the area, the more field lines go through it and, hence, the greater the flux; similarly, the stronger
the electric field is (represented by a greater density of lines), the greater the flux. On the other hand, if the
area rotated so that the plane is aligned with the field lines, none will pass through and there will be no flux.
AREA VECTOR
For discussing the flux of a vector field, it is helpful to introduce an area vector A
The area vector of a flat surface of area has the following magnitude and direction:
• Magnitude is equal to area (A)
• Direction is along the normal to the surface (n); that is, perpendicular to the surface.
Since the normal to a flat surface can point in either direction from the surface, the direction of the area
vector of an open surface needs to be chosen.
ELECTRIC FLUX
Now that we have defined the area vector of a surface, we can define the electric flux of a uniform electric
field through a flat area as the scalar product of the electric field and the area vector:
Electric flux is the rate of flow of the electric field through a given area. Electric flux is proportional to the
number of electric field lines going through a virtual surface.
The electric flux is represented by a symbol Ѱ (psi). Similar to the electric charge, electric flux is also
measured in coulombs (C).
ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY
The number of electric field lines or electric lines of force flowing perpendicularly through a surface area is
called electric flux density.
Electric flux density can be mathematically defined as electric flux per surface area.
Electric flux is measured in Coulombs (C) and surface area is measured in square meters (m2). Hence, the
SI unit of electric flux density is coulomb per square meters (C/m 2).
If the number of electric lines of force passing through a given surface area is high, then the electric flux
density is also high. Similarly, if the number of electric lines of force passing through a given surface area is
low then the electric flux density is also low.
When the surface is placed perpendicular to the electric field, maximum number of electric field lines or
electric lines of force will pass through the surface.
When the surface is placed parallel to the electric field, no electric lines of force will pass through the
surface.
The electric flux is considered as positive if the electric lines of force go away from a surface. On the other
hand, it is considered as negative if the electric lines of force enter into a surface.
Sample Problem:
A uniform electric field with a magnitude of E=400N/C incident on a plane surface of area A=10m^2 and
makes an angle of θ=30∘ with it. Find the electric flux through this surface?
Sample Problems:
A 2cm×2cm square lies in the xy-plane. Find the electric flux through the square for each of the following
electric field vectors?
(a) E=(50i+20j)N/C
(b) E=(50k+20j)N/C
(a) Therefore, the electric flux through a flat surface on the xy-plane is
(b) Again, we have
PRACTICE EXERCISES:
1. A square surface with sides of 1m×1m located over the xy-plane where a constant electric field with a
magnitude of 200N.m2/C presents. The direction of the electric field vector is depicted in the figure. What is
the total electric flux through the open surface?
2. Find the electric flux through the surface with sides of 15cm×15cm shown in the figure below.
3. A constant electric field of magnitude EO points in the direction of the positive Z- axis. What is the electric
flux through a rectangle with sides a and b in the
(a) xy-plane and in the (b) xz -plane?
