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QJEEM23Pha5cb: JEE Main 2023 Physics - Class 12 JEEM23Pha5cb Solution: The electric field due to a short electric dipole at a large…

The electric field due to a short electric dipole at a large distance (r)(r) from center of dipole on the equatorial plane varies with distance as :

Multiple Choice Options

  • A 1r2\frac{1}{r^{2}}
  • B 1r\frac{1}{r}
  • C rr
  • D 1r3\frac{1}{r^{3}}

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

At a large distance rr from the center of a short electric dipole, the electric field on the equatorial plane can be approximated as:

E=14πϵ02pr3

where pp is the dipole moment of the electric dipole, and ϵ0\epsilon_0 is the permittivity of free space.

This formula is derived using the concept of electric dipole moment, which is defined as:

p→=qd→

where qq is the magnitude of the electric charge, and d⃗\vec{d} is the separation vector between the positive and negative charges of the dipole. The electric field at a point on the equatorial plane of the dipole is due to the electric field of the positive and negative charges at that point.

Since the charges are equal in magnitude and opposite in sign, their electric fields at a point on the equatorial plane cancel out along the axis of the dipole, leaving only the component perpendicular to the axis.

This perpendicular component of the electric field is proportional to the dipole moment pp and inversely proportional to the cube of the distance rr from the center of the dipole.

Therefore, the electric field due to a short electric dipole at a large distance rr from the center of the dipole on the equatorial plane varies with distance as:

E∝1r3

where the proportionality constant is 14πϵ0\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} .

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