How Do You Approach Complex Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a complex double integral in polar coordinates, specifically integrating over the variables r and theta. The original poster presents an integral involving a function that includes trigonometric and polynomial terms, with constants involved in the setup.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the dimensional correctness of the integrand and suggest potential issues with the formulation of the integral. There are attempts to clarify the expression using LaTeX formatting, and some participants question the assumptions made regarding the terms in the denominator.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided feedback on the original formulation of the integral, with some suggesting corrections and clarifications. The original poster acknowledges the feedback and revises the integral accordingly. There is ongoing exploration of methods to solve the integral, particularly focusing on the integration with respect to r after addressing the theta component.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is applying this integral in the context of deriving the van der Waals potential between two spheres, indicating specific physical constraints and relationships relevant to the problem.

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Homework Statement


Hi Guys, I need help to solve this double integration. This integration is over r and theta. The rest are constant.

Homework Equations


∫[itex]^{R_{2}}_{r=0}[/itex] ∫[itex]^{\pi}_{\theta=0}[/itex] r[itex]^{2}[/itex] sin([itex]\theta[/itex]) dr d[itex]\theta[/itex] / ((D[itex]^{2}[/itex]+r[itex]^{2}[/itex] - 2rd cos([itex]\theta[/itex]))[itex]^{2}[/itex] - R[itex]_{1}[/itex]^2)[itex]^{3}[/itex], r from 0 to R[itex]_{2}[/itex], theta from 0 to pi.

The slash stand for division, I am not sure how to create a proper fraction here so I used slash.

The Attempt at a Solution


I have attempted to solve this problem by reducing it to s hollow shell, ie r is a constant, but the integratino seem to be the same for theta.

Thank you for your help!
 
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I assume D is the same as d.
Are you sure about the integrand? It looks dimensionally wrong. R12 is a quadratic term being subtracted from a quartic term.
To get fractions in LaTex use \frac{}{}.
 
Red said:
∫[itex]^{R_{2}}_{r=0}[/itex] ∫[itex]^{\pi}_{\theta=0}[/itex] r[itex]^{2}[/itex] sin([itex]\theta[/itex]) dr d[itex]\theta[/itex] / ((D[itex]^{2}[/itex]+r[itex]^{2}[/itex] - 2rd cos([itex]\theta[/itex]))[itex]^{2}[/itex] - R[itex]_{1}[/itex]^2)[itex]^{3}[/itex], r from 0 to R[itex]_{2}[/itex], theta from 0 to pi.
Oh messy - you used the equation editor right?
Here, let me help...

$$\int_{r=0}^{R_2} \int_{\theta=0}^{\pi}
\frac{ r^2 \sin\theta \;\text{d}r\text{d}\theta }{ \big( (D^2+r^2-2rD\cos\theta)^2-R_1^2\big)^3 }$$ ... this what you meant?

To see how I did that, use the "quote" button at the bottom of this post.
I have the same reservations about the denominator as haruspex... suspect the square about the cosine rule term is misplaced.

It would probably help to know what problem you are actually trying to solve here.
 
Simon Bridge said:
Oh messy - you used the equation editor right?
Here, let me help...

$$\int_{r=0}^{R_2} \int_{\theta=0}^{\pi}
\frac{ r^2 \sin\theta \;\text{d}r\text{d}\theta }{ \big( (D^2+r^2-2rD\cos\theta)^2-R_1^2\big)^3 }$$ ... this what you meant?

To see how I did that, use the "quote" button at the bottom of this post.
I have the same reservations about the denominator as haruspex... suspect the square about the cosine rule term is misplaced.

It would probably help to know what problem you are actually trying to solve here.

Thank you Simon Bridge! It look much nicer now. I realized I made a mistake that you and haruspex pointed out, I have corrected the integration and it looks like this:

$$\int_{r=0}^{R_2} \int_{\theta=0}^{\pi}
\frac{ r^2 \sin\theta \;\text{d}r\text{d}\theta }{ \big( D^2+r^2-2rD\cos\theta-R_1^2\big)^3 }$$

I realized I can solve the theta part of this integration, however I do not know how to proceed on with the r part. This is what I get after solving the theta part:

$$\frac{ 1 }{ 4 D }\int_{r=0}^{R_2} \frac{ r }{ \big( (D-r)^2-R_1^2\big)^2 } - \frac{ r }{ \big( (D+r)^2-R_1^2\big)^2 } \text{d}r $$

Can you help me on this integration? Thank you!

I am using the Hamaker approach to derive the van der Waal potential between two sphere of radius R[itex]_{1}[/itex] and R[itex]_{2}[/itex], the distance between the center of the two sphere is D.
 
I think you want a substitution like ##R_1\sec u = D-r## for the first one and ##R_1\sec u = D+r## for the second one.
But you may be able to just do it by partial fractions.
 
Thank you for your help!
 
Simon Bridge said:
To see how I did that, use the "quote" button at the bottom of this post.
You can also right click > Show math as > TeX commands.
 
Thanks adjacent! I have just learn TeXstudio so I am kind of more familiar with this kind of text input now.
 

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