AIIMS 2018 Physics Electric Flux MCQ Question

The electric flux (Φ) through a surface is given by the formula Φ = E · A · cos(θ), where E is the electric field strength, A is the area of the surface, and θ is the angle between the electric field and the normal to the surface. In this case, since the square surface lies entirely in the plane of the paper and the electric field is also in that plane, the angle θ between the electric field and the normal (which is perpendicular to the surface) is 90 degrees. Therefore, cos(90°) = 0, resulting in zero electric flux (Φ = 0).

Options (A), (B), and (C) incorrectly suggest that there is a non-zero flux by assuming a component of the electric field contributes to the flux, which is not applicable when the field is parallel to the surface itself.