Paper 4, Section II, C

Electrodynamics
Part II, 2011

Suppose that there is a distribution of electric charge given by the charge density ρ(x)\rho(\mathbf{x}). Develop the multipole expansion, up to quadrupole terms, for the electrostatic potential ϕ\phi and define the dipole and quadrupole moments of the charge distribution.

A tetrahedron has a vertex at (1,1,1)(1,1,1) where there is a point charge of strength 3q3 q. At each of the other vertices located at (1,1,1),(1,1,1)(1,-1,-1),(-1,1,-1) and (1,1,1)(-1,-1,1) there is a point charge of strength q-q.

What is the dipole moment of this charge distribution?

What is the quadrupole moment?