You are tasked with calculating an electric field for both charge distributions

Question

You are tasked with calculating an electric field for both charge distributions at distances larger than d from the positive charges. You decided to use the Gauss' law. Consider the following statement:

The total charge enclosed by any surface at distances larger than  d is zero for both distributions. According to Gauss' law this means that the total electric field flux through the surface is zero. Therefore since the surface area is not zero the electric field will be zero.

Select what you think is correct about the statement above.  discuss if the statement is correct. If the statement is incorrect explain why

a) the statement is correct and applies to both cases

b)the statement is incorrect and doesn't five the correct answer in either case    

c) the statement is generally incorrect but gives the correct magnitude of the field for the dipole but incorrect for the shell

d) the statement is generally incorrect but gives the correct magnitude of the field for the shell but incorrect for the dipole

Explanation / Answer

d) is correct.

Since Gauss law is for "closed surface" .In given statement, no info about surface ( whether close or not) is not given .Hence it is wrong .

But as the thin shell form close surface , this statement still work for it .

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