Gauss' Law for Electrostatics

I admit that I have something of a block when it comes to Electromagnetism, but this question is so basic it's really bugging me. So time to throw my pride aside.

I have a member at PHF that asked me if an exterior non-uniform charge distribution can create an electric field inside a closed surface. My initial answer was "no" based on Gauss' Law because I could swear I've done a number of them. However it is true that a single point charge outside the surface generates an electric field inside the surface. My problem is that the net flux through the surface is 0, but I thought that implied that E was also 0? There's a big flaw in my reasoning but I can't seem to find it.

-Dan

Addendum: As I've been typing there's something that's trying to worm its way into my head. I've leave the question as posted. If I figure it out I'll let you all know the hows and whys.

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Originally Posted by topsquark

I admit that I have something of a block when it comes to Electromagnetism, but this question is so basic it's really bugging me. So time to throw my pride aside.

I have a member at PHF that asked me if an exterior non-uniform charge distribution can create an electric field inside a closed surface. My initial answer was "no" based on Gauss' Law because I could swear I've done a number of them. However it is true that a single point charge outside the surface generates an electric field inside the surface. My problem is that the net flux through the surface is 0, but I thought that implied that E was also 0?

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No, it just means that the "number" of field lines going into the surface is the same as the "number" of field lines going out. You will have an electric field in this case! An exterior non-uniform charge distribution cannot create any net flux through a closed surface. But in order not to do that, the field it does generate will be just right so that the new field lines coming in one portion of the surface cancel out the field exiting in another portion of the surface.

Don't know if that answers your question or not.

Quote:

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There's a big flaw in my reasoning but I can't seem to find it.

-Dan

Addendum: As I've been typing there's something that's trying to worm its way into my head. I've leave the question as posted. If I figure it out I'll let you all know the hows and whys.

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Originally Posted by Ackbeet

No, it just means that the "number" of field lines going into the surface is the same as the "number" of field lines going out. You will have an electric field in this case! An exterior non-uniform charge distribution cannot create any net flux through a closed surface. But in order not to do that, the field it does generate will be just right so that the new field lines coming in one portion of the surface cancel out the field exiting in another portion of the surface.

Don't know if that answers your question or not.

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That, along with the gelled thought that I had before that you sparked my memory with, solves the problem. The trouble I was having was similar to the field "rearranging" the flux lines...it is similar to the field inside a conductor rearranging the external charge density in such a way that the field cancels out inside the conductor. My whole difficulty is most (or perhaps even all) of the problems I've worked with deal with conductors.

Thanks!

-Dan

You're welcome!