Practice question
Question
Why does the electric field due to a dipole exhibit a stronger angular dependence compared to a single
point charge?
Explanation
**Dipole moment** governs torque and energy in external field. Axial field stronger than equatorial, torque maximum at θ = 90°, zero when aligned. Work done rotating dipole relates to ΔU = pE(1 - cosθ), explaining stable equilibrium at θ = 0°. The dipole’s field arises from two opposite charges, creating a directional dependence. The angle between the dipole axis and the point affects the field’s magnitude and direction more significantly than a point charge’s isotropic 1/r² field. Substituting values gives Directional dependence, which matches expected magnitude for this electrostatic configuration, confirming Coulomb's and Gauss's principles and charge quantization consistency.
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