What is the electric potential (V) at the center of an electric dipole composed of charges +q and -q separated by a distance 2a?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Zero
- Step 1: The center of the dipole is equidistant from both charges, at distance from and distance from .
- Step 2: Electric potential is a scalar quantity obeying the superposition principle: .
- Step 3: , and .
- Step 4: .
- Step 5: (Note that while the potential is zero, the electric field at the center is non-zero and points from positive to negative charge).
Answer
Zero
Why not the others: 'V = q / (2 π ε0 a)' adds potentials without signs; 'V = q / (4 π ε0 a)' is the potential of one charge alone; 'V = -q / (4 π ε0 a)' ignores the positive charge.
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