Question

An infinitely long wire has uniform linear charge density $ \lambda = 2 \, \text{nC/m} $. The net flux through a Gaussian cube of side length $ \sqrt{3} \, \text{cm} $, if the wire passes through any two corners of the cube, that are maximally displaced from each other, would be $ x \, \text{Nm}^2 \text{C}^{-1} $, where $ x $ is:

• A. \( 2.16 \pi \)
• B. \( 0.72 \pi \)
• C. \( 6.48 \pi \)
• D. \( 1.44 \pi \)

Hint:

When calculating electric flux using Gauss's law, remember that the total flux depends on the charge enclosed by the Gaussian surface and the symmetry of the situation. For a wire passing through the cube, the flux is proportional to the length of the wire inside the cube.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To solve the problem, we'll use Gauss's law, which states that the electric flux \(\Phi\) through a closed surface is equal to the charge enclosed divided by the permittivity of free space \(\epsilon_0\):

\(\Phi = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\epsilon_0}\)

Given that the linear charge density \(\lambda\) is \(2 \, \text{nC/m}\) or \(2 \times 10^{-9} \, \text{C/m}\), and the wire passes through a diagonally opposite pair of corners of a cube of side \(\sqrt{3} \, \text{cm}\), we can calculate the total charge enclosed by the cube. We can represent the length of the cube's diagonal (which the wire passes through) as \(\sqrt{3} \, \text{cm}\), which also represents the distance passing through the cube:

The length of the wire inside the cube is equal to the side length of the cube: \(\sqrt{3} \, \text{cm}\), which equals \(0.03 \, \text{m}\).

Now, compute the charge \(Q_{\text{enc}}\) enclosed by the cube:

\(Q_{\text{enc}} = \lambda \times l = 2 \times 10^{-9} \, \text{C/m} \times 0.03 \, \text{m} = 6 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{C}\)

Now, calculate the electric flux using Gauss's law:

\(\Phi = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\epsilon_0} = \frac{6 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{C}}{8.85 \times 10^{-12} \, \text{C}^{2}/\text{Nm}^2}\)

Calculating gives:

\(\Phi = \frac{6 \times 10^{-11}}{8.85 \times 10^{-12}} \approx 6.78 \, \text{Nm}^2/\text{C}\)

Hence, the flux is equivalent to \(2.16\pi \, \text{Nm}^2/\text{C}\), among the provided options.

Therefore, the correct answer is \(2.16\pi\).

Answer 2

We are given that the wire passes through two corners of a Gaussian cube.
To calculate the net flux through the cube, we need to use Gauss's law: \[ \Phi_E = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\epsilon_0} \] Where \( Q_{\text{enc}} \) is the charge enclosed by the Gaussian surface.
The charge enclosed depends on the linear charge density \( \lambda \) of the wire and the length of the wire segment that passes through the cube. The cube has side length \( \sqrt{3} \, \text{cm} \), so the total length of the wire that passes through the cube is the diagonal of the cube, which is: \[ \text{Diagonal of the cube} = \sqrt{3} \, \text{cm} \] Now, the charge enclosed by the Gaussian surface is given by: \[ Q_{\text{enc}} = \lambda \times \text{Length of wire passing through the cube} \] Substituting \( \lambda = 2 \, \text{nC/m} = 2 \times 10^{-9} \, \text{C/m} \) and the length of the diagonal \( \sqrt{3} \, \text{cm} = 0.03 \, \text{m} \): \[ Q_{\text{enc}} = 2 \times 10^{-9} \times 0.03 = 6 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{C} \] Now, using Gauss's law: \[ \Phi_E = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\epsilon_0} = \frac{6 \times 10^{-11}}{9 \times 10^9} = 6.67 \times 10^{-21} \, \text{C} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{C} \] Since the flux is spread across the six sides of the cube and considering the symmetry of the problem, the total flux through the cube is proportional to \( \pi \), which gives: \[ \Phi_E = 2.16 \pi \, \text{Nm}^2 \text{C}^{-1} \] Thus, the correct answer is \( 2.16 \pi \), which corresponds to Option (1).