Electric Flux & Gauss’s Law — A/L Physics

A. Electric Flux Model Definition: Electric flux is a measure of the number of electric field lines passing through a given area, representing the flow of the electric field through that surface. Explanation: Electric flux (Φ_E) quantifies how much electric field penetrates through a surface area. It's calculated as the product of electric field intensity (E) and the area (A) perpendicular to the field lines. When the field is uniform and perpendicular to the surface, Φ_E = EA. The concept helps visualize how electric fields spread out from charges and how they interact with surfaces. Flux lines originate from positive charges and terminate on negative charges, providing a visual model of field strength and direction. Think of it as: Imagine water flowing through a fishing net - the amount of water passing through represents the flux. More water flow or a larger net opening means greater flux, similar to stronger electric fields or larger areas giving greater electric flux.