HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Gauss's Law Pages 141-142: Q6 Solution: A charge Q is placed at a distance a/2 above the centre of a…

QPages 141-142: Q6: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Gauss's Law Pages 141-142: Q6 Solution: A charge Q is placed at a distance a/2 above the centre of a…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students frequently divide the total flux $Q/\epsilon_0$ by six, assuming the charge sits at the centre of a cube whose one face is the given square; this is only valid if the charge is exactly at the cube’s centre. Always confirm that the chosen Gaussian surface encloses the charge symmetrically before applying the $1/6$ factor.

A charge Q is placed at a distance a/2 above the centre of a horizontal, square surface of edge a as shown in the following figure. Find the flux of the electric field through the square surface.

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** Flux =

\frac{Q}{6\epsilon_0}

. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** Consider a cube of edge

a

with the charge Q at its centre. The square surface is one face of this cube. By symmetry, the flux through this face is

\frac{Q}{6\epsilon_0}

QPages 141-142: Q6: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Gauss's Law Pages 141-142: Q6 Solution: A charge Q is placed at a distance a/2 above the centre of a…

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

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