What is the unit and dimension of electric flux?
Electric flux has SI unit of volt metre (V m), or, equivalently Newton metre squared per Coulomb (N m^2 C^-1). Thus the base SI units of electric flux are kg m^3 s^-3 A^-1. So the dimensional formula of electric flux is [M L^3 T^−3 A^−1]. I have solved how to calculate the dimensional formula for electric flux.
This question is part of UPSC exam. View all Class 12 courses
What is the unit and dimension of electric flux?
What is the unit and dimension of electric flux?
Electric Flux:
Electric flux is a measure of the electric field passing through a given area. It is defined as the total number of electric field lines passing through a surface. The electric flux depends on the strength of the electric field, the area of the surface, and the angle between the electric field lines and the surface.
Unit of Electric Flux:
The unit of electric flux is the volt-meter (V·m), which is equivalent to the newton-meter squared per coulomb (N·m^2/C). This unit is derived from the basic units of the electric field (volts per meter) and the area (square meters).
Dimension of Electric Flux:
The dimension of electric flux is given by [ML^3T^-3A^-1], which represents length cubed per charge (L^3/Q). This dimension is derived from the dimensional analysis of the electric field (volts per meter) and the area (square meters).
Explanation:
Electric flux is a scalar quantity that measures the electric field passing through a given area. It is defined as the dot product of the electric field vector and the surface area vector. Mathematically, it can be represented as:
Electric Flux = E · A · cosθ
Where E is the electric field, A is the area vector, and θ is the angle between the electric field lines and the surface.
The unit of electric flux, volt-meter (V·m), represents the product of volts (V) and meters (m). This unit indicates that electric flux is a measure of the electric field strength (volts per meter) multiplied by the area through which the field lines pass (square meters).
The dimension of electric flux, [ML^3T^-3A^-1], indicates that electric flux is a quantity that has dimensions of length cubed per charge. This dimension reflects the fact that electric flux depends on the electric field (measured in volts per meter) and the area (measured in square meters), which are both derived from the fundamental dimensions of length (L), time (T), and electric charge (Q).
In conclusion, electric flux is a measure of the electric field passing through a given area. It is expressed in the unit of volt-meter (V·m), which represents the product of volts and meters. The dimension of electric flux, [ML^3T^-3A^-1], indicates that it is a quantity with dimensions of length cubed per charge.