Round 12: Tossup 11

One form of this law sets free charge density equal to the divergence of the D-field. Replacing a term in this equation with a gradient term yields Poisson’s equation. Applying this law to a plane of charge involves drawing a cylinder through it, an example of its discoverer’s (15[1])namesake symmetric surfaces. An analogous form of this law for gravity sets “minus 4 pi G M” equal to a surface integral. Expressions for the (*) electric field around sheets or wires of charge are derived from this law, the first of Maxwell’s equations. Per this law, the charge enclosed by a surface is proportional to the electric flux through it. For 10 points, give this law named for the discoverer of the normal distribution. ■END■

Back to tossups

Buzzes

Summary