If the total charge enclosed by a Gaussian surface is zero, what can be said about the electric field on that surface?
Correct Answer: Electric field can be non-zero.
- Step 1: Understand what a Gaussian surface is. It is an imaginary closed surface used in Gauss's law to analyze electric fields.
- Step 2: Know that the total charge enclosed by the Gaussian surface is the sum of all charges inside it.
- Step 3: If the total charge enclosed is zero, it means there are no charges inside the Gaussian surface.
- Step 4: Remember that the electric field is created by charges. If there are no charges inside, the enclosed charge is zero.
- Step 5: However, the electric field on the surface can still be affected by charges that are outside the Gaussian surface.
- Step 6: Therefore, even if the total charge inside is zero, the electric field on the surface can still be non-zero due to external charges.
- Gauss's Law – The relationship between electric flux through a closed surface and the charge enclosed by that surface.
- Electric Field – A vector field around charged particles that exerts force on other charges.
- Superposition Principle – The principle stating that the total electric field is the vector sum of the electric fields due to individual charges.
