Electric Flux: It is a measure of the flow of the electric field through a given surface. It is defined as the product of the electric field (E) and the area (A) of the surface normal to the field, and is usually represented by the Greek letter “Phi” (Φ). The unit of electric flux is the volt-meter (Vm), which is equivalent to the joule per coulomb (J/C).

The concept of electric flux is also used in Gauss’s Law, which states that the total electric flux through a closed surface is proportional to the charge enclosed within the surface. This law is useful for calculating the electric field due to a point charge, a charged conductor, or a system of charges.

Electric Flux Formula

The total number of electric field lines passing a given area in a unit of time is defined as the electric flux. Similar to the example above, if the plane is normal to the flow of the electric field, the total flux is given as:

ø_p = EA

When the same plane is tilted at an angle θ, the projected area is given as Acosθ, and the total flux through this surface is given as:

ø = EAcosθ

Where,

• E is the magnitude of the electric field.
• A is the area of the surface through which the electric flux is to be calculated.
• θ is the angle made by the plane and the axis parallel to the direction of flow of the electric field.

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By Team Learning Mantras