Question

State whether true or false:
Gauss law is applicable only when there is a symmetric distribution of charge.
- True
- False

Answer 1

Hint: The Gauss’s law is also known as the Gauss’s flux theorem which is a law relating to the distribution of the electric charge to the resulting electric field. The surface under consideration can be the closed one enclosing the volume such as the spherical surface.

Complete step by step answer:
Complete step by solution:
Gauss law states that – The area integral of the electric field over any closed surface is equal to the net charge enclosed in that surface divided by the permittivity of the space. As a result, it is applicable for any charge distribution. Usually, it is more useful for the symmetrical distribution of charges.
Gauss’s law can be expressed as –
${\phi _E} = \dfrac{Q}{{{\varepsilon _0}}}$
Where,
${\phi _E} = $ The electric flux through the closed surface S enclosing any volume V
$Q = $ The total charge enclosed within the Volume V
${\varepsilon _0} = $The electric constant
Hence, if the electric field is known everywhere – Gauss's law makes it possible to find the distribution of electric charge in any distribution of the charge. Therefore, the charge in any given region can be deduced by integrating the electric field to find the flux.
Therefore, the given statement - Gauss law is applicable only when there is a symmetric distribution of charge is false.

So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note:
Follow the properties of the distribution of the charge among the closed surface and the different applicable laws on it. Here, we cannot apply Coulomb's law as the distribution of the two charged bodies of the finite sizes does not remain uniform when the two bodies are brought together.