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• Relation between Electric field

and Potential
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• Electric Dipole

What you will learn

ELECTROSTATICS • Electric field and potential due

to electric dipole
S14: Electric field and potential • Electric dipole in uniform
due to Electric Dipole electric field
ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE

(𝑟 ≫ 2𝑙)
𝑟 𝐸𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝑂 𝑝 𝐸−𝑞 𝑃 𝐸+𝑞

𝑙 𝑙
Three cases of dipole:
ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At Axial or End-on position

Consider a dipole as shown in

figure. Net electric field at ac
axial point 𝑃 due to the charges
forming dipole is,
ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At Axial or End-on position

Here, 𝑟 ≫ 𝑙

Here, the direction o net electric field is along

axis of dipole and same as dipole moment.

2𝑘𝑝Ԧ
𝐸𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 3
𝑟
ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At Equatorial position 𝐸+𝑞
Equatorial
Consider a dipole as shown in figure. Electric field axis
𝐸𝑒𝑞 𝑃
at this point due to charges is in different
directions. Net electric field at equatorial point 𝑃
due to the charges forming dipole is, 𝐸−𝑞
(𝑟 ≫ 2𝑙) 𝑟

𝜃 𝜃

∵ 𝑂 𝑝

From figure, direction of net electric field is

𝑙 𝑙
opposite to dipole moment i.e., it is along .
𝑘𝑝Ԧ
𝐸𝑒𝑞 =− 3
𝑟
ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At General position
Consider a dipole as shown in figure.
Resolve the dipole moment in
components as shown in figure.
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑡
For component 𝑝 cos 𝜃, point 𝑃 lies on its
𝐸𝑒𝑞 𝛼 𝐸𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙
axis.
Thus,
(𝑟 ≫ 2𝑙)
For component , 𝑝 sin 𝜃, point 𝑃 lies on 𝑃
𝑟
its axis.
Thus,

𝜃
Electric field at point 𝑃 due to charges
is in different directions. 𝑂 𝑝
𝑙 𝑙
ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At General position

Net electric field at a general point 𝑃 due to

the charges forming dipole is,

Direction of net electric field:

𝑘𝑝 tan 𝜃
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 3 1 + 3 cos2 𝜃 tan 𝛼 =
𝑟 2
 Find the electric field at point 𝐴 due to dipole as shown.

Solution

Resolve the dipole moment as shown in figure.

For component 𝑝 cos 𝜃, point 𝑃 lies on its axis.
Thus,
37° 𝐴
For component 𝑝 sin 𝜃, point 𝑃 lies on equator.
5𝑚
Thus,

Net electric field:

Direction of electric field:

𝑘𝑝
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 73
625
 Find the electric field at point 𝐴 due to dipole as shown.

Solution

Given, 𝑟 = 2 𝑚
𝜃 = 53°
𝑘𝑝 2𝑚 𝐴
We have, 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 3 1 + 3 cos 2 𝜃
𝑟
𝑘𝑝 53°
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 3 1 + 3 cos 2 53°
2 𝑝
2
𝑘𝑝 3
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 1+3
8 5
𝑘𝑝 𝑘𝑝
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 52 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 52
40 40
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At Axial or End-on position (𝑟 ≫ 2𝑙)
𝑟

𝑂 𝑝 𝑃

𝑙 𝑙
Consider a dipole as shown in figure.
Net electric potential at an axial point 𝑃 due to the charges forming dipole is,

𝑘𝑝
𝑉𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 2
𝑟
 Find work done in moving charge 𝑞0 from point 𝐴 to 𝐵.

𝐵 𝐴
−𝒒 +𝒒 +𝒒𝟎

2𝑚 4𝑚

Solution 𝑘𝑝
𝑉= 2 Work done:
𝑟

Potential due to
dipole at point 𝐴:

Potential due to
dipole at point 𝐵: 5𝑞0 𝑘𝑝
𝑊𝐷 =
16
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At Equatorial position (𝑟 ≫ 2𝑙)

Consider a dipole as shown in figure. Equatorial

𝑃 axis
Potential at point 𝑃 due to
charge +𝑞:

𝑟
Potential at point 𝑃 due to
charge +𝑞: 𝜃 𝜃

𝑂 𝑝
Net electric potential at point 𝑃:
𝑘𝑞 𝑘𝑞 𝑙 𝑙
𝑉𝑒𝑞 = − =0
𝑥 𝑥

𝑉𝑒𝑞 = 0
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At General position (𝑟 ≫ 2𝑙)
Resolve the dipole moment in components as shown in the figure.
Potential at point 𝑃 due to 𝑝 cos 𝜃:
𝑘 𝑝 cos 𝜃
𝑉𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 =
𝑟2
Potential at point 𝑃 due to 𝑝 sin 𝜃:
𝑉𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 0 𝑃
𝑟
Net electric potential at point 𝑃:

𝜃
𝑂 𝑝
𝑘𝑝 cos 𝜃 𝑘 𝑝.
Ԧ 𝑟Ԧ
𝑉𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 2
= 3 𝑙 𝑙
𝑟 𝑟
 Find work done in moving charge 𝑞0 from point 𝐴 to 𝐵.

Solution
𝐴 +𝒒𝟎
𝐵
Potential due to dipole at point 𝐴:

53° 37°
−𝒒 +𝒒

Potential due to dipole at point 𝐵:

Work done

−𝑞0 𝑘𝑝
𝑊𝐷 =
5
ELECTRIC DIPOLE IN UNIFORM EXTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD

Consider a dipole placed in

uniform electric field as shown. 𝐸
𝑞𝐸
Force on two charges is equal
and opposite. Thus, net force 𝑝
on dipole is zero (𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 0).
𝑙 𝜃
𝑂
Net torque on dipole:
𝑞𝐸
𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝜏Ԧ(+𝑞) + 𝜏Ԧ(−𝑞)

(∵ )

𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑝Ԧ 𝐸 sin 𝜃
ELECTRIC DIPOLE IN UNIFORM EXTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD

𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑝Ԧ × 𝐸

𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑝Ԧ 𝐸 sin 𝜃
𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐸 × 𝑝Ԧ
𝑝

𝜃 𝑝
𝐸

Torque acts such that it try to align the dipole in direction of electric field
ELECTRIC DIPOLE IN UNIFORM EXTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD

Torque on dipole:

𝑝 90°
𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑝Ԧ 𝐸 sin 𝜃 𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑝Ԧ × 𝐸
𝐸 𝐸
𝑝 90°
For 𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑥

For maximum torque, sin 𝜃 should be

maximum i.e., 𝜃 should be 90°

Magnitude of torque is maximum when dipole is perpendicular to diection

of electric field
ELECTRIC DIPOLE IN UNIFORM EXTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD

Torque on dipole: 𝜃 = 0° 𝑝

𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑝Ԧ 𝐸 sin 𝜃 𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑝Ԧ × 𝐸 𝐸

𝑝
For 𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝜃 = 180°

For minimum torque, sin 𝜃 should be

minimum i.e., 𝜃 should be either 0° or
180°.

Magnitude of torque is zero or

minimum when dipole is aligned in
electric field direction
 Find angular acceleration (𝛼) for the mass system as shown.

Solution
+𝒒 𝑚
Torque on dipole: 𝑝 𝐸0
2𝑙 53°
𝜏Ԧ𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑝Ԧ 𝐸 sin 𝜃
𝑂
……(1)
−𝒒 𝑚
Moment of inertia of dipole:
From equation (1) and (2),
……(2)
𝑞𝐸0
We have, 𝛼= sin 53°
4 𝑚𝑙
sin 53° =
5