Question

A single point charge q is located at the center of both an imaginary cube and an imaginary sphere. How does the electric flux through the surface of the cube compare to that through the surface of the sphere?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Electric flux is defined as the flow of electric field intensity through a given surface.

Mathematically:

`\phi=E.A.cos\ \theta`

where:

E = electric field

A = area

θ = angle between the area vector and the electric field

Electric flux through the surface of a sphere will be uniform throughout the surface area due to a charge at the center of the sphere. The distance of the surface from the center is always at a constant distance of radius of the sphere.

Electric flux through the surface of a cube will be varying as the surface area is at a varying distance from the center of the cube. The distance of the surface from the center is not at a uniform distance from the center of the cube and so the projection of solid angle changes.