Consider a spherical Gaussian surface of radius R centered at the origin. A charge Q is placed inside the sphere. To maximize the magnitude of the flux of the electric field through the Gaussian surface, the charge should be located

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The concept being tested is Gauss's law: the total electric flux through a closed surface depends only on the net enclosed charge, not on the position of that charge inside the surface.
Option 1: 'at x = 0, y = 0, z = R/2.' This specifies a particular inside location. While the flux through the sphere would indeed be the same for any position of the charge inside, this option does not express the general principle and is too specific to be the best answer to the question about maximizing flux.
Option 2: 'at x = R/2, y = 0, z = 0.' Similar to Option 1, it fixes a particular inside position. It does not capture the general statement that the flux magnitude is independent of the charge’s exact location inside the sphere.
Option 3: 'The charge can be located anywhere, since flux does not depend on the position of the charge as long as it is inside the sphere.' This directly states the core result from Gauss's law: as long as the charge is enclosed, the total flux is Q/ε0, independent of placement. This is the correct conceptual answer.
Option 4: 'at the origin.' This is a specific location. Even though placing the charge at the origin is inside, this option does not convey the general principle; it also could be misleading if students think only the origin yields maximum flux.
Option 5: 'at x = 0, y = R/2, z = 0.' Like Options 1 and 2, it designates a particular interior point. It fails to articulate the general independence of flux from the exact interior position.
In summary, Gauss's law tells us that the magnitude of the flux through the spherical surface equals Q/ε0 regardless of where inside the sphere the charge sits. Therefore, the statement that best captures this principle and answers the question about maximizing flux is Option 3.

202502PHY1202 Assignment 4 Gauss Law - due February 23, 2025 11:59 pm.

Consider a spherical Gaussian surface of radius R centered at the origin. A charge Q is placed inside the sphere. To maximize the magnitude of the flux of the electric field through the Gaussian surface, the charge should be located

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