Question

what is electric dipole?​

Answer 1

★ $\large{\underline{\rm{\red{Electric\:dipole:-}}}}$

→ An electric dipole is basically a pair of equal and the opposite point charges (q) and (-q) here q stands for charge. They both charges are saperated by the distance 2a.

→ Basically here the line connecting two charges defines a direction is space.

→ Here the direction from the charge -q to q is know as the direction of the dipole.

→ Here the mid-point of the location of -q and the q is called the centre of the dipole.

Physical significance of dipoles :-

→ If we talk about molecules here we will notice that centres of positive charges and of negetive charges lies at the same place that's why their dipole moment is zero.

→ But their are some of molecules the centre of negetive charges and positive charges do not coincide. Thats why they have a permanent electric dipole moment even in the absence of electric field. These molecules are known as polar molecules.

→ H2O is an example of this type.

Answer 2

DescriptionThe electric dipole moment is a measure of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges within a system, that is, a measure of the system's overall polarity. The SI units for electric dipole moment are coulomb-meter; however, a commonly used unit in atomic physics and chemistry is the debye.