What is electric dipole?

In simple terms, an electric dipole refers to a pair of equal and opposite electric charges that are separated by a small distance. This separation creates a "positive" end and a "negative" end within the system. 

Imagine a bar magnet, where you have a north pole and a south pole. Similarly, in an electric dipole, you have a positive charge and a negative charge. However, unlike a magnet, an electric dipole is formed by charges rather than by the alignment of tiny magnetic fields.

The separation between the positive and negative charges is called the dipole moment. It is represented by the symbol "p" and is calculated by multiplying the magnitude of the charge by the distance between them.

Electric dipoles can be found in various situations. For example, molecules with a polar covalent bond, such as water (H2O), exhibit dipole behavior. The oxygen atom pulls the shared electrons more towards itself, creating a partial negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms have a partial positive charge. This separation of charges results in an electric dipole moment for the water molecule.

Understanding electric dipoles helps explain phenomena like the attraction or repulsion of charges, the behavior of certain molecules in electric fields, and the interactions between electric fields and matter.