ELECTRIC DIPOLE

• Electric dipole consists of a pair of equal and opposite point charges separated by
a small distance.

The electric dipole moment  is a measure of the separation of positive and

negative electrical charges within a system, that is, a measure of the system's
overall polarity. 
Electric dipole moment (p) is defined as the product of magnitude of any one of the
charges(q) constituting the dipole and the distance of separation (2a) between them.
It is a vector quantity. It is directed from –q to +q.
p = q x 2a
Its S.I unit is coulomb – metre ( C-m)
The line passing through the centre of the dipole and the two charges +q & –q is
called Axial line of the dipole.
The line passing perpendicular to the axial line but through the centre of the dipole is
called Equatorial line of the dipole.
 TORQUE ON AN ELECTRIC DIPOLE PLACED IN A
UNIFORM EXTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD
Consider an electric dipole placed in a uniform external electric field.
F+ is the force acting on +q and F- is the force acting on –q.

F+ = F- = qE (∵E= F/q0 )

Hence Net F = F+ + F- = 0 on the dipole.

θ The two forces acting on the dipole are equal in
magnitude but act in opposite directions. They have
different lines of action and constitute a couple.
A torque, hence, acts on the dipole.
Please ζ = Force x perpendicular distance between the forces
refer = qE x 2a Sinθ ( Here d = 2a )
to this
diag. ζ = p x E Sinθ ( since q x 2a = p)
only

ζ= px E

ζ is perpendicular to the plane containing p & E . Pairs of perpendicular vectors are

ζ and E , ζ and p
S.I unit of ζ is N-m
E AT A POINT ON THE AXIAL LINE & EQUATORIAL LINE OF AN
ELECTRIC DIPOLE
 CONTINUOUS CHARGE
DISTRIBUTION
Charge configurations involving discrete charges q1, q2, ..., qn have the
advantage of being easier to solve & do not involve calculus in
calculations.
But, for many purposes, it is impractical to work in terms of discrete
charges and we need to work with continuous charge distributions.
A system in which charge is distributed over a conductor, is called
continuous charge distribution system.
 In continuous charge system, infinite numbers of charges are closely
packed and have minor space between them. Unlike the discrete
charge system, the continuous charge distribution is uninterrupted
and continuous in a conductor.
There are three types of the continuous charge distribution system:
 Linear Charge Distribution
 Surface Charge Distribution
 Volume Charge Distribution
 LINEAR CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
• When the charge is uniformly distributed over the length of a conductor, it is
called linear charge distribution. It is also called linear charge density and is
denoted by the symbol λ (Lambda).
• Mathematically linear charge density is :

• The unit of linear charge density is C/m

• If we consider a conductor of length ‘L’ with linear charge density λ and take an
element dl on it, then small charge on it will be :

• So the electric field on a small charge element dq is :

• Hence net electric field is:

Rod of length L
 SURFACE CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
• When the charge is uniformly distributed over the surface of the conductor, it is
called Surface Charge Density or Surface Charge Distribution. It is denoted by the
symbol σ (sigma) symbol and is the unit is C / m2
• It is also defined as charge/ per unit area. Mathematically surface charge density is:

where dq is the small charge element over the small surface ds. So, the small charge on
the conductor will be:
• The electric field due to small charge at some distance ‘r’ can be evaluated as :

• Hence net electric field is :

 VOLUME CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
• When the charge is distributed over a volume of the conductor, it is called Volume
Charge Distribution, i.e, charge per unit volume is called Volume Charge Density 
It is denoted by the symbol ρ (rho) and its S.I unit is C/m3

• Mathematically, volume charge density is:

where dq is small charge element located in small volume dv.

• The electric field due to dq will be :

• Hence net electric field is :

 cylinder

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