MCQEasyJEE 2024Gauss's Law Applications

JEE Physics 2024 Question with Solution

An electric field is given by E=(6i+5j+3k)N/CE = (6i + 5j + 3k) \, \text{N/C}. The electric flux through a surface area 30im230i \, \text{m}^2 lying in the YZYZ-plane (in SI units) is:

  • A

    9090

  • B

    150150

  • C

    180180

  • D

    6060

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: E=(6i^+5j^+3k^)N/C\vec{E} = (6\hat{i} + 5\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}) \, \text{N/C} and A=30i^m2\vec{A} = 30\hat{i} \, \text{m}^2.

Find: Electric flux through the given surface.

Electric flux is given by the dot product:

Φ=EA\Phi = \vec{E} \cdot \vec{A}

Since the surface lies in the YZYZ-plane, its area vector is along i^\hat{i}. Therefore,

Φ=(6i^+5j^+3k^)(30i^)\Phi = (6\hat{i} + 5\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}) \cdot (30\hat{i})

Only the components along the same direction contribute in the dot product, so

Φ=6×30=180N m2/C\Phi = 6 \times 30 = 180 \, \text{N m}^2/\text{C}

Therefore, the electric flux through the surface is 180N m2/C180 \, \text{N m}^2/\text{C}. The correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Using the magnitude of the entire electric field vector instead of taking the dot product is incorrect, because flux depends only on the component normal to the surface. Use the area vector direction and compute EA\vec{E} \cdot \vec{A}.

  • Assuming the area vector lies in the YZYZ-plane is wrong, because the area vector is always perpendicular to the surface. For a surface in the YZYZ-plane, the area vector is along i^\hat{i} or i^-\hat{i}.

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