Question

An electric dipole consists of a positive and negative charge of $4\mu C$. Each is placed at a distance of 5 mm. The dipole moment for the system is

Answer 1

Step 1: Given data

Two charges of the dipole are $+4\mu C$ and $-4\mu C$.

The distance between two charges is $5mm=5\times {10}^{-3}m$.

Step 2: Dipole moment

1. When two opposite charges of the same value are placed at a distance, then the system is called a dipole.
2. The dipole moment of a dipole is defined by the form, $P=QL$, where, $Q$ is the charge of the dipole and $L$is the distance between them.

Step 3: Calculation of the dipole moment

As we know that the dipole moment is, $P=QL$.

So,

$$\begin{gathered} P=QL=\left(4\mu C\right)\times \left(5\times {10}^{-3}\right) \\ orP=\left(4\times {10}^{-6}\right)\times \left(5\times {10}^{-3}\right) \\ orP=2\times {10}^{-8}CM \end{gathered}$$ (since, $4\mu C=4\times {10}^{-6}C$)

Therefore, The dipole moment of the system is $2\times {10}^{-2}coulombmeter$.