So, what does this mean for the physical interpretation of a point dipole?

In summary, a point dipole is a dipole that is so small that its size does not matter in calculations, and higher moments do not affect it. This means that the distance at which the electric field is being calculated is much larger than the distance between the charges. This does not mean that the distance is infinitely small, so the charge would still be finite.
  • #1
ShayanJ
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Mathematically,its easy to say that when the distance between the points tends to zero,for the dipole moment to stay finite,the charge should tend to infinity.
My question is,how should I interpret it?
What is a point dipole physically?
Could you give examples?
thanks
 
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  • #2
You can interpret it as a dipole which is so small that its size does not matter. This implies that all relevant distances in your problem are much larger than the size of the dipole, and higher moments (quadrupole, ...) do not matter.
 
  • #3
Shyan said:
...for the dipole moment to stay finite,the charge should tend to infinity.

When we say a point dipole we mean that the distance at which are calculating electric field is much greater than the distance between the charges .

eg 1cm is very small before 10km

But it does not mean that the distance itself is infinitely small. Hence charge would also be finite.
 

FAQ: So, what does this mean for the physical interpretation of a point dipole?

What is a point dipole?

A point dipole is a theoretical concept in physics that describes a system where two opposite charges are located very close together. This results in a dipole moment, which is a measure of the separation of the two charges and the strength of their interaction.

How is a point dipole different from a regular dipole?

A regular dipole is a physical object that has a positive and negative charge separated by a distance. A point dipole, on the other hand, is a mathematical model that represents the behavior of a dipole in the limit of the separation distance approaching zero.

What is the significance of a point dipole in physics?

Point dipoles are important in physics because they represent the simplest case of a dipole and are often used to model more complex systems. They are also used in calculations and equations to simplify the analysis of electric fields and interactions between charges.

Can a point dipole exist in real life?

No, a point dipole is a theoretical concept and cannot exist in real life. It is an idealized model that is used to simplify calculations and understand the behavior of more complex systems.

How is a point dipole represented mathematically?

A point dipole is represented by a vector quantity called the dipole moment, which is the product of the magnitude of the charges and the distance between them. This vector points from the negative charge to the positive charge and is used in equations to calculate the electric field and potential at different points in space.

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