Understanding Electric Flux
Electric flux is a measure of the electric field passing through a given area. Think of it like counting how much water flows through a net when you place it in a stream.
Mathematically, electric flux (Φ) is defined as the dot product of the electric field vector (E) and the area vector (A):
Φ = E · A = EA cosθ
Where θ is the angle between the electric field and the normal to the surface area.
Key Points About Electric Flux
- 1
Electric flux depends on both the strength of the electric field and the area it passes through.
- 2
The angle between the field and the surface matters! Maximum flux occurs when the field is perpendicular to the surface (θ = 0°).
- 3
No flux passes through a surface when the electric field is parallel to it (θ = 90°).
- 4
The SI unit of electric flux is newton-meters squared per coulomb (N·m²/C).
Try It Yourself: Electric Flux Calculator
Calculated Electric Flux
0.00 N·m²/C
Formula: Φ = E·A·cos(θ) = 100 × 2 × cos(0°)