Electrodynamics, multipolar development doubt

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the electric field generated by two point charges, +q and -q, positioned at (0, -b, 0) and (0, b, 0) respectively, along with a charged ring of radius a in the XY plane. The electric field along the z-axis is derived using superposition, resulting in a field expression of -b/(2πε0z)y^ + (λa)/(2ε0z²)z^ at large distances. The multipolar expansion reveals that the monopole and quadrupole moments are zero, while the dipole moment is calculated as p = 2bq y^. The challenge arises in utilizing the first two terms of the multipolar expansion, as the quadrupole contribution is also found to be zero.

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  • Understanding of electric fields and point charges
  • Familiarity with multipole expansion in electrodynamics
  • Knowledge of vector calculus and vector notation
  • Basic principles of charge density and its implications
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  • Learn about the implications of monopole, dipole, and quadrupole moments in electrostatics
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Students and professionals in physics, particularly those focusing on electrodynamics, electrostatics, and mathematical physics. This discussion is beneficial for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of electric fields and multipolar expansions.

Frank Einstein
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Homework Statement



In the XY plane there are two point charges +q at (0, -b, 0) and –q at (0, b, 0) and a ring of radius a centred in the centre of the plane:

Find the electric field in all points of the z axis and study the field’s dominant behaviour at distances z >>a,b.

Find the electric field at any point of space at big distances by using the two firsts terms of the multipolar development and compare with the previousparagraph.
Electrodinamica1.jpg

The z axis pops out of the paper and goes up.

Homework Equations


All bold leters are vectors
any x^, y^, z^, is a vector of module 1.
p= sum(ri*qi)
Φ1=(1/4*π*ε0)*(r*p/r^3)

The Attempt at a Solution


Well, I don’t have much trouble with the first part, I find the field of a positive punctual charge at the z axis, same with a negative and by superposing both, I finish with

–b/2*π*ε0*(z^2+b^2)^0.5 in the y direction.

For the ring, I have (λ*a)/(2*ε0*(z^2+a^2)^(3/2) in the z direction. λ is the linear density of charge

At big distances the total field is -b/(2*π*ε0*z)y^+ (λ*a)/(2*ε0*z^2)z^Trouble comes when I arrive to the second part because when I calculate the three contributions the monopolar, dipolar and quadrupolar. The ring doesn’t produce any multipolar development

The first one is 0, the total charge is 0, the second contribution, the dipolar one is pr/(4*π*ε0), p=2bqy^

And last, when I have to find the quadripolar, momentum as
(¼*π*ε0)*Σ(Qij*(3xixj-(r^2)*δij)/r^5)
I find that Q11=Qxx=0, Qzz=Q33=0 and Q22=Qyy=(1/2)[(-b)(-b)q+(b)(b)(-q)]=0.
Meaning that the quadripolar momentum is 0, I know that I cannot go to further terms because the teacher has said that we won’t study these, so I find myself with just one term when in the description of the problem they tell me to use two terms.
 
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Thanks for the post! Sorry you aren't generating responses at the moment. Do you have any further information, come to any new conclusions or is it possible to reword the post?
 
Frank Einstein said:
The z axis pops out of the paper and goes up.
Really?
 

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