Methodology for Applying Gauss's Law

Methodology for Applying Gauss's Law

Step 1:	Identify the symmetry properties of the charge distribution.
Step 2:	Determine the direction of the electric field, and a surface on which the magnitude of electric field is constant.
Step 3:	Decide how many different regions of space the charge distribution determines.
Step 4:	For each region of space, choose the Gaussian surface such such that the flux integral is either case (a) or case (b) above.
Step 5:	Calculate the flux through the Gaussian surface.
Step 6:	For each region of space, calculate the charge enclosed in the choice of the Gaussian surface for that region.
Step 7:	For each region of space, equate the two sides of Gauss's law in order to find an expression for the magnitude of the electric field in that region of space.
Step 8:	Graph the magnitude of the electric field as a function of the parameter specifying the Gaussian surface for all regions of space.