Question

Derive the formula for the electric field along the perpendicular bisector od an electric dipole.

(show the diagramed and all the steps of derivation. Write meaning of every symbol used in derivation)

Answer 1

Consider an Electric Dipole with charges +q and –q separated by a distance of d. We shall designate components due to +q and –q using subscripts + and – respectively.

We shall for the sake of simplicity only calculate the fields along symmetry axes, i.e. a point P along the perpendicular bisector of the dipole and a point Q along the axis of the dipole.

Along perpendicular bisector (point P):

The electric fields due to the positive and negative charges (Coulomb’s law):

answer