The methodology of explanation and the degree of detail in presenting the Gauss theorem to students

in the physics course of Bauman Moscow State Technical University, when studying electrostatics and magnetostatics, much attention is paid to the calculation of electric and magnetic fields in vacuum and medium. First of all, the student is taught how, on the basis of well-known school knowledge, using the method of partitions and the principle of superposition of electric fields, knowing what the field strength of a point charge is, to determine the intensity of the electrostatic field created at the observation point by an extended charged body: an infinite or semi-infinite thread, segment, ring, sphere, ball, etc. To determine the strength of the electrostatic fields of charged bodies with spatial symmetry (flat, cylindrical or spherical), we use the Gauss theorem. However, when presenting this theorem, the teacher faces the following problems: firstly, in the course of higher mathematics, the concept of flow has not yet been introduced, and the theorem itself has not been passed; secondly, the recording of the Gauss theorem itself is not entirely clear to students, because they do not know the integral over a closed surface; thirdly, on At the moment, it is difficult to find literature in which the application of this theorem is considered in detail. The article shows the application of the Gauss theorem on the example of an infinite thread, a convenient auxiliary closed surface (Gaussian surface) is constructed and its choice is justified. In the process of solving, those parts of the surface on which the stress vector slides along the auxiliary surface are identified and it is shown that the flow of the stress vector through these elements is zero. It shows how to calculate the flow through the rest of the surface. Such a detailed presentation allows us to understand how the electric field strength is determined using the Gauss theorem. After analyzing the analyzed example, the student himself will be able to solve similar problems for other charged bodies, he will realize his ability to cope with the tasks set, which will increase his motivation for further studies.

physics, electrostatics, Gauss theorem, surface