A charge of 87.6 pC is uniformly distributed on the surface of a thin sheet of insulating material that has a total area of 65.2 cm^2. A Gaussian surface encloses a portion of the sheet of charge. If the flux through the Gaussian surface is 9.20 N⋅m^2/C, what area of the sheet is enclosed by the Gaussian surface?

60.8 cm²

Explanation:

The charge density, σ on the surface is σ = Q/A where q = charge = 87.6 pC = 87.6 × 10⁻¹² C and A = area = 65.2 cm² = 65.2 × 10⁻⁴ m².

σ = Q/A = 87.6 × 10⁻¹² C/65.2 × 10⁻⁴ m² = 1.34 × 10⁻⁸ C/m²

Now, the charge through the Gaussian surface is q = σA' where A' is the charge in the Gaussian surface.

Since the flux, Ф = 9.20 Nm²/C and Ф = q/ε₀ for a closed Gaussian surface

So, q = ε₀Ф = σA'

ε₀Ф = σA'

making A' the area of the Gaussian surface the subject of the formula, we have

A' = ε₀Ф/σ

A' = 8.854 × 10⁻¹² F/m × 9.20 Nm²/C ÷ 1.34 × 10⁻⁸ C/m²

A' = 81.4568/1.34 × 10⁻⁴ m²

A' = 60.79 × 10⁻⁴ m²

A' ≅ 60.8 cm²