An electric dipole is defined as a couple of opposite charges q and –q separated by a distance d. By default, the direction of electric dipole in space is always from negative charge -q to positive charge q. The midpoint q and –q is called the centre of the dipole.

Two point charges, one with charge +q and the other one with charge −q separated by a distance d, constitute an electric dipole (a simple case of an electric multipole). For this case, the electric dipole moment has a magnitude and is directed from the negative charge to the positive one.

When an electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field, a torque develops and aligns the dipole in the direction of an electric field. However, the dipole doesn’t move as the net force acting on the dipole is zero.

Jan 15, 2025 · Earlier we discussed, and calculated, the electric field of a dipole: two equal and opposite charges that are “close” to each other. (In this context, “close” means that the distance \(d\) between the two charges is much, much less than the distance of the field point \(P\), the location where you are calculating the field.)

We consider now the effect that a uniform electric field has on a dipole. Note that while we will be assuming a uniform field, in reality we mean that the amount that the external field changes across the length of the dipole is negligible.

When a dipole is immersed in a uniform electric field, as illustrated in Figure 16.4.3 16.4. 3, the net force on the dipole is zero because the force on the positive charge will always be equal and in the opposite direction from the force on the negative charge. Figure 16.4.3 16.4. 3: An electric dipole in a uniform electric field.

Recall that we found the electric field of a dipole in Equation 5.7. If we rewrite it in terms of the dipole moment we get: →E (z) = 1 4πϵ0 →p z3. E → (z) = 1 4 π ϵ 0 p → z 3.

When an electric field is applied to a system of charges within matter, the polar molecules align themselves in the direction of the electric field, resulting in a net dipole moment and the matter becoming polarised.

The electric field of a dipole can be seen as the result of two charges approaching each other. Learn in this problem how to use the Taylor expansion of 1/|r-r'| to calculate this field. Find out how this series expansion yields multipole moments, a very powerful description of the electric field. Problem Statement

An electric dipole is tagged as a pair of objects which possess equal & opposite charges, parted by a significantly small distance. Let us take two charges having equal magnitude ‘Q’, which are separated by the distance ‘D’.