Electric Flux – Two Approaches

In this work, we discuss the solution for calculating the electric flux produced by a point charge through a flat surface, based on the direct application of the flux definition and another approach using an ”extension” of Gauss’s law. The rigorous solution derived from the definition of electric flux yielded a laborious calculation and produced the same result that can be obtained from the simplified application of Gauss’s law, which provides an almost immediate solution to the problem. Additionally, this work discusses different didactic approaches for presenting Gauss’s law, with the objective to determine which one would provide a higher degree of maturity regarding the topic and an expanded understanding of this law to students. The discussion involves the issue of teaching and learning through acceptance-repetition versus demonstration-induction, and their consequences.

Keywords:
Physics teaching; electromagnetism; Gauss’s law