Electrostatics

In electrostatics E=-dV/dR where E=electric field and V=electric potential. Then how can there be E on equtorial axis of an electric dipole where V is zero?

sujeesh b

11 Years agoGrade

2 Answers

Ashish Gupta

11 Years ago

$dV = -\int\overrightarrow{E}.d\overrightarrow{r} = -[Ex dx + Ey dy + Ez dz]$
Hence, $Er = - dV/dr$

On equatorial axis of an electric dipole, electric field in the direction of radius vector i.e. Er = 0 as you can verify that V is 0 on equatorial axis and hence $dV/dr = 0$ .
Electric field is there but it is actually perpendicular to radius vector.

Rishi Sharma

5 Years ago

Dear Student,
Please find below the solution to your problem.

Hence,

On equatorial axis of an electric dipole, electric field in the direction of radius vector i.e. Er = 0 as you can verify that V is 0 on equatorial axis and hence [dV/dr = 0] . Electric field is there but it is actually perpendicular to radius vector.

Thanks and Regards