From flux alone, Coulomb’s law emerges.
Gauss’s law: Φ_E = ∮ E · dA = q_in / ε₀
Spherical symmetry makes E constant and radial, so
E · 4πr² = q_in / ε₀
⇒ E = q_in / (4π ε₀ r²) = k q_in / r²
(k = 1/(4π ε₀))
This inverse-square field shapes atomic forces, transistor design, and particle accelerators.
A surface integral becomes the local force law through pure symmetry.