Electric Flux Video Lessons

Concept

Problem: Some planetary scientists have suggested that the planet Mars has an electric field somewhat similar to that of the earth, producing a net electric flux of 3.58 × 1016 N⋅m2/C into the planet's surface.Part A. Calculate the total electric charge on the planet.Part B. Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the planet's surface (refer to the astronomical data inside the back cover).Part C. Calculate the charge density on Mars, assuming all the charge is uniformly distributed over the planet's surface. σ  = C/m2

FREE Expert Solution

Electric flux:

$\overline{){{\mathbf{\varphi }}}_{{\mathbf{E}}}{\mathbf{=}}\frac{{\mathbf{Q}}_{\mathbf{enc}}}{{\mathbf{\epsilon }}_{\mathbf{0}}}}$, where Q is the electric charge in the given cross-sectional area and ε0 is the permittivity in free spare

Electric field:

$\overline{){\mathbit{E}}{\mathbf{=}}\frac{\mathbf{k}\mathbf{q}}{{\mathbit{R}}^{\mathbf{2}}}}$

Part A

From the equation for electric flux:

Qenc = Φε0

Qenc = (3.58 × 1016)(8.854 × 10-12) = 3.17 × 105 C

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Problem Details

Some planetary scientists have suggested that the planet Mars has an electric field somewhat similar to that of the earth, producing a net electric flux of 3.58 × 1016 N⋅m2/C into the planet's surface.

Part A. Calculate the total electric charge on the planet.

Part B. Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the planet's surface (refer to the astronomical data inside the back cover).

Part C. Calculate the charge density on Mars, assuming all the charge is uniformly distributed over the planet's surface. σ  = C/m2