Why does the electric field due to a dipole have both radial and tangential components at a general point?
**Electric dipole** consists of charges +q and -q separated by 2a, dipole moment p = q·2a, vector from negative to positive, unit C·m. In uniform field E, torque τ = p × E, magnitude τ = p E sinθ, tending to align p with E, potential energy U = -p·E = -p E cosθ. The dipole’s field results from two opposite charges, creating a complex pattern. At a general point, the field vectors from each charge have different directions, resolving into radial (along the line from the dipole) and tangential (perpendicular) components due to asymmetry. Substituting values gives Vector addition, which matches expected magnitude for
Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Electric Charges and Fields > Electric Dipole - Moment, Field and Torque