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A point charge causes an electric flux of -1.0×10³ N m² C⁻¹ to pass through a spherical Gaussian surface of 10.0 cm radius centred on the charge. If the radius of the Gaussian surface were three times as large, how much flux would pass through the surface?

Asked in GUJCET 2007 · Gauss's law and enclosed charge

Answer: (2) -1.0×10³ N m² C⁻¹

Step-by-step solution

Given: the flux through a sphere of radius 10.0 cm is -1.0×10³ N m² C⁻¹; the radius is made three times larger.

Idea: Gauss's law, φ=(qᵢₙ)/(ε₀). The flux depends only on the charge enclosed, not on the size or shape of the surface.

The charge inside is the same, so the flux is the same.

Another view: the area grows as r² (by 9) while E falls as 1/(r²) (by 9), so E×4π r² does not change.

φ=-1.0×10³ N m² C⁻¹

Why the other options are wrong

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