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Q.Derive the expression for electric field intensity at a point on equatorial plane due to electric dipole.

Uttarakhand UbseUttarakhand Board Intermediate (Class 12) 2019Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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On the equatorial plane, E=14πε0p(r2+a2)3/2E=\dfrac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\dfrac{p}{(r^2+a^2)^{3/2}}, and for r≫ar\gg a, E=p4πε0r3E=\dfrac{p}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 r^3}, opposite to p⃗\vec p.

Setup. A dipole consists of charges +q+q and −q-q separated by 2a2a; dipole moment p=q(2a)p=q(2a) points from −q-q to +q+q. Consider a point PP on the equatorial line (perpendicular bisector) at distance rr from the centre. The distance from each charge to PP is

s=r2+a2s = \sqrt{r^2 + a^2}

Fields due to each charge. Magnitudes are equal:

E+=E−=14πε0qr2+a2E_+ = E_- = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q}{r^2+a^2}

Each makes an angle θ\theta with the equatorial line, where cos⁡θ=a/s\cos\theta = a/s.

Resolving components. The components perpendicular to the axis (E±sin⁡θE_\pm\sin\theta) are equal and opposite → they cancel. The components parallel to the dipole axis (E±cos⁡θE_\pm\cos\theta) point the same way (from +q+q toward −q-q, i.e. antiparallel to p⃗\vec p) → they add:

Eeq=2E+cos⁡θ=2⋅14πε0qr2+a2⋅ar2+a2E_{eq} = 2E_+\cos\theta = 2\cdot\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q}{r^2+a^2}\cdot\frac{a}{\sqrt{r^2+a^2}} …

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