Two charges of $5 Q$ and $-2 Q$ are situated at the points $(3 a, 0)$ and $(-5 a, 0)$ respectively. The electric flux through a sphere of radius '$4 a$' having center at origin is :
Solution
<p>The electric flux through any closed surface is given by Gauss's law, which can be stated as:</p>
$\Phi = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\varepsilon_0}$
<p>where:</p>
<ul>
<li>$\Phi$ = electric flux</li>
<li>$Q_{\text{enc}}$ = total charge enclosed by the surface</li>
<li>$\varepsilon_0$ = permittivity of free space (electric constant)</li>
</ul>
<p>In this scenario, we have a sphere of radius $4a$ with its center at the origin and two charges, $5Q$ at point (3a, 0) and $-2Q$ at point (-5a, 0). Since the sphere's radius is $4a$, the charge $5Q$, which is located at (3a, 0), lies inside the sphere, whereas the charge $-2Q$, located at (-5a, 0), lies outside the sphere. Gauss's law only considers charges that are enclosed within the surface.</p>
<p>Thus, the charge $-2Q$ has no impact on the electric flux through the sphere because it is not enclosed by the sphere. Only the charge $5Q$ contributes to the electric flux inside the sphere.</p>
<p>The electric flux through the sphere is therefore given simply by the enclosed charge:</p>
$\Phi = \frac{5Q}{\varepsilon_0}$
About this question
Subject: Physics · Chapter: Electrostatics · Topic: Coulomb's Law
This question is part of PrepWiser's free JEE Main question bank. 132 more solved questions on Electrostatics are available — start with the harder ones if your accuracy is >70%.