Introduction to Electrodynamics · Problem 3.30

Potentials — David J. Griffiths

Physics · multipole-expansion-dipole-moment

Problem

In Ex. 3.9, we derived the exact potential for a spherical shell of radius RR, which carries a surface charge σ=kcos⁡θ\sigma = k\cos\theta. (a) Calculate the dipole moment of this charge distribution. (b) Find the approximate potential, at points far from the sphere, and compare the exact answer (Eq. 3.87). What can you conclude about the higher multipoles?

Related theory

Browse the problem library