Question

At large distances, the potential of an electric dipole falls off as:

Options

• \[\frac{1}{r^2}\], whereas the potential of a single point charge falls off as \[\frac{1}{r}\]

• \[\frac{1}{r^3}\], whereas the potential of a single point charge falls off as \[\frac{1}{r^2}\]

• \[\frac{1}{r}\], the same as a single point charge

• \[\frac{1}{r}\], whereas the potential of a single point charge falls off as \[\frac{1}{r^2}\]

Answer 1

A dipole potential varies as 1/r², while a single point charge potential varies as 1/r. The dipole potential decays faster because the opposite potentials of the two charges partially cancel at large distances.