Question

Draw equipotential surfaces for an electric dipole.

Dipoles, whether electric or magnetic, are characterised by their dipole moments, which are vector quantities. Two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance constitute an electric dipole, while a current carrying loop behaves as a magnetic dipole. Electric dipoles create electric fields around them. Electric dipoles experience a torque when placed in an external electric field.

Two identical electric dipoles are placed along the diagonals of a square ABCD of side √2 m as shown in the figure. Obtain the magnitude and direction of the net electric field at the centre (O) of the square.

An electric dipole of length 2 cm is placed at an angle of 30° with an electric field 2 × 10⁵ N/C. If the dipole experiences a torque of 8 × 10⁻³ Nm, the magnitude of either charge of the dipole, is