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2qa = p j
(1)
The magnitude of the electric dipole is p = 2qa , where q > 0 . For an overall charge-
neutral system having N charged objects, the electric dipole vector p
is defined as
1
i N
i
i
q
=
=
i
p r (2)
where
i
r
E r and
3 e
q
k
r
E r .
Solution: From the figure we have that the vectors from the charged particles to the field
point are
( ) x y a
= +
r i j
The respective distances from the positive and negatively charged objects to the field
point at
(x, y,0) are given by the expressions
r
= (x
2
+ ( y ma)
2
)
1/ 2
The charges are
q
+
= q and
q
3/ 2
x
x
2
+ ( y + a)
2
3/ 2
|
\
|
.
|
|
.
Similarly, the
y -component is given by
E
y
= k
e
q
y a
x
2
+ ( y a)
2
3/ 2
y + a
x
2
+ ( y + a)
2
3/ 2
|
\
|
.
|
|
We can show that the electric field of the dipole in the limit where r >> a is
E
x
=
k
e
3p
r
3
sinu cosu, E
y
=
k
e
p
r
3
(3cos
2
u 1) (3)
where
sinu = x / r and
cosu = y / r . See Problem Set 1 Problem 4.
Question 2: By what power of distance does the strength of electric field fall off? How
does this compare to a single point charge? Briefly explain a reason for the difference
between these two cases.
Solution: The electric field E
E =
making an angle u with the x-axis.
Question 1: What is a vector expression for the dipole moment p
p is
cos sin u u + i j . Thus, we have
2 (cos sin ) qa u u = + p i j
(1)
Question 2: Find a vector expression for the torque on the dipole. What point did you
compute the torque about? Is your answer independent of that choice of point?
Solution: As seen from Figure 3 above, since each point-like charged object experiences
an equal but opposite force due to the field, the net force on the dipole is
net
0
+
= + =
F F F . Even though the net force vanishes, the field exerts a torque a toque
on the dipole that is independent of a choice of point. We select the midpoint O of the
dipole about which to calculate the torque.
( cos sin ) ( ) ( cos sin ) ( )
sin ( ) sin ( )
2 sin ( )
a a F a a F
a F a F
aF
u u u u
u u
u
+ + +
+
= + = + +
= +
=
t
r F r F i j i i j i
k k
k
(2)
where we have used
F
+
= F
= F .
5
Question 3: What type of motion does the dipole undergo if it is released from its
position and is free to move?
Solution: The direction of the torque is
t
is to rotate the dipole clockwise so that the dipole moment p
.
Question 4: Show that = t
p E .
Solution: With
F = qE, the magnitude of the torque can be rewritten as
2 ( ) sin (2 ) sin sin a qE aq E pE t u u u = = =
and the general expression for torque becomes = t
p E .
Question 5: Torque on an Electric Dipole Animation
Open up the applet, Torque on an Electric Dipole
http://web.mit.edu/viz/EM/visualizations/electrostatics/ForcesTorquesOnDipoles/torqueondipolee/torqueondipolee.htm
The units for the dipole moment are 10
6
m C and the units for electric field strength are
10
3
N C
-1
Set the dipole moment p = 0.05 10
6
m C , the electric field strength
E = 0.1 10
3
N C
-1
, and the damping to zero. What approximately is the period of
oscillation? Click on the Electric Fields: Grass Seeds bar to see a representation of the
electric field at various moments in the oscillation. At what point in the cycle are the
field lines most contorted? At what point are the field lines nearly straight (except close
to the dipole).
Summary
- Two equal but opposite point-like charged objects form an electric field that far from
the charged objects is an electric dipole. The electric dipole moment vector
r
p points
from the negative point-like charged object to the positive point-like charged object,
and has a magnitude
2 p aq =
- The torque acting on an electric dipole
r
p placed in a uniform electric field E
is
= t
p E