Question

The following charges are located inside a submarine: 2.75 μC, −9.00 μC, 27.0 μC, and −43.5 μC.(a) Calculate the net electric flux through the hull of the submarine.(b) Is the number of electric field lines leaving the submarine greater than, equal to, or less than the number entering it?

Answer 1

Answer with Explanation:

We know that by Gauss's Law

`E\cdot Flux=(q_(inside))/(\epsilon _o)`

Where

`\epsilon _o` is permitivity of free space

`q_(inside)` is the net charge in the hull

Part a)

Applying the given values we get

`E\cdot Flux=((2.75+27-9-43.5)* 10^(-6)C)/(8.85* 10^(-12))\\\\\therefore E\cdot flux=-2.5* 10^(6)`

Part b)

Since the sign of the electric flux is negative we conclude that the electric field lines entering the submarine are more than the electric field lines leaving the submarine. Since negative sign implies that flux by negative charges is dominant.