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(g) Electric Dipoles
A electric dipole consists of two equal and opposite charges   q  separated by a distance d . Its
 
dipole moment is p  qd and its direction is from  q to  q charge.
The Electric Potential and Field of a Dipole
 z
If we choose coordinates so that p (dipole moment) lies r̂
at the origin and points in the z -direction, then potential
at (r , ) is: 
r ˆ

 p
1 p cos  1 p.rˆ y
Vdip  r ,    .
4 0 r 2
4 0 r r 2
2


 p.rˆ   pzˆ  .rˆ  p cos  x
 
Since E  V
V 2 p cos  1 V p sin  1 V
 Er    , E    , E    0.
r 4 o r 3
r  4 o r 3
r sin  
The electric field of a dipole:

E dip  r ,  
p
4 0 r 3
 
2 cos  rˆ  sin ˆ .
  
   
We can express p  p.rˆ rˆ  p.ˆ ˆ  p cos  rˆ  p sin ˆ .
 
 
Thus, 3 p  rˆ rˆ  p  2 p cos  rˆ  p sin ˆ
 1   
 E dip  r ,  
4 0 r 3 
3 
p  ˆ
r ˆ
r  p


Note:

(a) When a dipole is placed in a uniform electric field ( E ), net force on the dipole is zero and it
    
experiences a torque   p  E where p  qd .
      
 
(b) In non-uniform field, dipoles have net force F  p  E and torque   p  E .
  
(c) Energy of an ideal dipole p in an electric field E is U   p.E .

(d) Interaction energy of two dipoles separated by a distance r is

1     
U
4 0 r 3 
p1  p 2  3 p 1 ˆ
r 
p 2  rˆ 


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