Practice question
Question
Why does the potential due to an electric dipole fall off as \( 1/r^2 \) at large distances, unlike the
potential of a point charge which falls off as \( 1/r \)?
Explanation
**Series combination** of capacitors has same charge Q on each because connected end-to-end, single path for charge flow, induced charges equal, total voltage V = Σ V_i = Q Σ 1/C_i, so 1/C_eq = Σ 1/C_i. Different potential differences V_i = Q/C_i inversely proportional to C_i, smaller C gets larger V. The potential due to a point charge falls as 1/r because it behaves as a single source of charge. An electric dipole consists of two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance, so their potentials partially cancel out at large distances. The net potential depends on the dipole moment and the angle
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