# What is electric dipole in an uniform electric field?

A pair of electric charges with an equal magnitude but opposite charges separated by a distance d is known as an electric dipole. The electric dipole moment for this is defined as the product of the magnitude of these charges and the distance between them. The electric dipole moment is a vector having a defined direction from the negative charge to the positive charge.

\(\overrightarrow{p}=q\overrightarrow{d}\)
• An electric dipole is described as a couple of opposite charges q and –q separated by a distance d.
• By default, the direction of electric dipoles in space is always from negative charge -q to positive charge q. The midpoint q and –q is called the centre of the dipole.
• The simplest example of an electric dipole is a pair of electric charges of two opposite signs and equal magnitude separated by distance.
• The net force acting on a dipole placed in a uniform electric field is zero. The forces on the two charges constituting the dipole are equal and opposite. Hence, the net force is zero.