Electric Dipole & Dipole Moment

Electric Dipole

An electric dipole is a system of two equal and opposite charges separated by a very small distance.

Example- A polar molecule like HCl ,water, alcohol molecule etc

O is called the centre of the dipole

AB=2l=Length of the dipole

Electric Dipole Moment or Dipole Moment \((\vec{p})\)

The dipole moment of an electric dipole is defined as the product of the magnitude of either charge and the length of the dipole.

i.e. \(p=\vert q \vert(2l)\)

SI Unit = Cm

The dipole moment is a vector quantity. It is directed from negative to positive charge along the axis of the dipole.

In Vector terms the formula for dipole moment can be written as

\(\vec{p}=\vert q \vert(2\vec{l})\)