Question

What is the electric field of a dipole at a point parallel to the two charges?

1) Zero
2) Non-zero and parallel to the axis of the dipole
3) Non-zero and perpendicular to the axis of the dipole
4) Cannot be determined without additional information

Answer 1

The electric field of a dipole at a point parallel to the two charges is non-zero and parallel to the axis of the dipole.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric field of a dipole at a point that is parallel to the charges (also referred to as along the axis of the dipole) is non-zero and points in the same direction as the dipole moment. This is due to the fact that the electric fields generated by each charge of the dipole at points along the axis add up.

On the axis outside the dipole, the electric field is directed from the positive charge towards the negative charge, which coincides with the direction of the dipole moment, and the field strength decreases with increasing distance from the charges.