Common Gaussian Surfaces
See also: charge densityWhen performing the closed surface integral, the Gaussian surface (commonly abbreviated G.S. or g.s.) does not necessarily encompass all the charge; i.e., there can be arbitrary charges outside the volume: as mentioned, Q(V) only counts the interior contribution. Furthermore: it is not necessary to choose a Gaussian surface that utilises the symmetry of a situation (as in the examples below) but, obviously the calculations are much less laborious if an appropriate surface is chosen.
Most calculations using Gaussian surfaces begin by implementing Gauss' law (for electricity):
Thereby Q(V) is the electrical charge contained in the interior, V, of the closed surface.
This is Gauss's law, combining both the divergence theorem and Coulomb's law.
Read more about this topic: Gaussian Surface
Famous quotes containing the words common and/or surfaces:
“This is really the common mentality of prisoners: they read with great attention all the articles that deal with illnesses and send away for treatises and “be your own doctor” or “emergency treatments” and end up by discovering that they have at least 300 or 400 illnesses, whose symptoms they are experiencing.”
—Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937)
“Footnotes are the finer-suckered surfaces that allow tentacular paragraphs to hold fast to the wider reality of the library.”
—Nicholson Baker (b. 1957)