An electric dipole consists of a particle with a charge of +6 * 10^-⁶ C at the origin and a particle with a charge of -6*10^-⁶ C on the x axis at x = 3 *10^-³ m. Its dipole moment is: A) 1.8 * 10^-⁸ C .m, in the positive x direction B) 1.8 * 10^-⁸ C. m, in the negative x direction C) 0, because the net charge is 0 D) 1.8 * 10^-⁸ C . m, in the possitive y dirrection E) 1.8 *10^-⁸ C . m, in the negative y dirrection

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dipole moment is given by the formula p=qd, where q is the charge and d is the displacement vector from the negative to the positive charge. In this case, q=6×10^(-6) C and d=3m i (where i is the unit vector in the x direction). Therefore, p=(6×10^(-6) C)(3m i)=18×10^(-6) C m i. This means that the dipole moment is in the negative x direction, since the negative charge is closer to the origin. Therefore, choice B is correct.

An Electric Dipole Consists of a Particle with a Charge