Gauss law and electric current

In summary, according to the Gauss law, extra charges accumulate on the surface of a conductor. However, when there is a current in a conducting wire, the charges also move inside the wire. This may seem incompatible with Gauss law, but it is because the law assumes electrostatic conditions which are not always valid. Additionally, the current in a conducting wire is not caused by extra charges, but by unbound electrons, and the net charge of the wire remains zero.
  • #1
hokhani
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According to the Gauss law, the extra charges gather on the surface of a conductor. When there is a current in a conducting wire, do the charges only move on the surface of the wire or we have current also inside the wire? If we also have current inside the wire how is it compatible with Gauss law?
 
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  • #2
Gauss law by itself does not require the charges to move to the surface. You must also assume electrostatic conditions which of course isn't a valid assumption.
 
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  • #3
The current in a conducting wire isn't from "extra charges", it's from unbound electrons. The net charge of a conducting wire is still zero.
 
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Related to Gauss law and electric current

What is Gauss law?

Gauss law is a fundamental law in electromagnetism that explains the relationship between electric fields and electric charges. It states that the electric flux through a closed surface is proportional to the total charge enclosed by that surface.

How does Gauss law relate to electric current?

Gauss law is closely related to electric current as it helps us understand the behavior of electric fields around conductors. According to Gauss law, the electric flux through a closed surface is directly proportional to the current passing through that surface.

Can Gauss law be applied to all types of electric currents?

Yes, Gauss law can be applied to all types of electric currents, including direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). This is because Gauss law is a fundamental law that applies to all types of electric fields, regardless of the nature of the current.

What are some practical applications of Gauss law in electric current?

There are many practical applications of Gauss law in electric current, such as designing electrical circuits, calculating the electric field strength in a given region, and understanding the behavior of electric fields around conductors.

How can Gauss law be used to calculate the electric field strength?

Gauss law can be used to calculate the electric field strength by integrating the electric flux over a closed surface. This is a mathematical method that allows us to find the electric field strength at a given point in space, based on the distribution of electric charges in that region.

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