Question

Use Gauss' law to derive the expression for the electric field `(vecE)` due to a straight uniformly charged infinite line of charge density λ C/m.

Use Gauss' law to obtain an expression for the electric field due to an infinitely long thin straight wire with uniform linear charge density λ.

Answer 1

Field due to an infinitely long straight uniformly charged wire,

Consider a thin, infinitely long straight line charge of linear charge density λ.

Let P be the point at a distance a from the line. To find the electric field at point P, draw a cylindrical surface of radius ‘a’ and length l.

If E is the magnitude of the electric field at point P, then electric flux through the Gaussian surface,

Φ = E × Area of the curved surface of a cylinder of radius r and length l

As electric lines of force are parallel to the end faces (circular caps) of the cylinder, there is no component of the field along the normal to the end faces.

Φ = E × 2πal …(i)

According to Gauss's Theorem,

`phi = q/epsilon_0`

`∵ q = lambdal`

`:. phi = (lambdal)/epsilon_0`  ...(ii)

From equations (i) and (ii), we get:

`E xx 2pial = (lambdal)/epsilon_0`