# Charge q located a large distance from a neutral atom

1. May 10, 2014

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A point charge q is situated a large distance r from a neutral atom of polarisability α. Find the force of attraction between them.

2. Relevant equations
$\vec{E}_{mono}(r)=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0r^2}\hat{r}$

$\vec{E}_{dip}(r,\theta)=\frac{p}{4\pi\epsilon_0r^3}(2\cos\theta\hat{r}+ \sin\theta\hat{\theta})$

$\vec{p}=\alpha\vec{E}$

$\vec{F}=q\vec{E}$

3. The attempt at a solution

$F=\frac{-2\alpha q^{2}}{\left(4\pi\epsilon_{0}\right)^{2}r^{5}}$ attractive force
My questions are that I wonder about the $\frac{1}{r^{5}}$, is't acceptable? and what is physically meaning of (large distance r from a neutral atom)

Last edited: May 10, 2014
2. May 10, 2014

### haruspex

To get it, you had to make an approximation with regard to distances, right? That is the reason you are told r is large. I.e. it is large compared with the effective distance (whatever that means) of the dipole moment.

3. May 10, 2014

### dauto

• Force between two monopoles ~ 1/r2
• Force between a monopole and a dipole ~ 1/r3
• Force between a monopole and an induced dipole (the one you calculated) ~ 1/r5
• Force between two dipoles ~ 1/r4
• Force between dipole and induced dipole ~ 1/r7
• Force between two induced dipoles (each one induces the other) ~ I'm leaving that as an exercise. Can you figure it out?

4. May 11, 2014

### rude man

I agree with this also. Your E_r expression implicitly assumes r >> distance between dipole charges.

I'm attaching a good set of notes for this topic.

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