Write an equation of potential due to an electric dipole and give its important features. Discuss its special cases.

Explanation

The electric potential `V= k((vecp.vecr)/(r^(2)))`
(i) Potential due to an electric dipole depends on the angle between position vector `hatr` of a point and the dipole moment `vecP` .
(ii) The electric dipole potential decreases as `(1)/(r^(2))` with distance not as `(1)/(r)` with distannce.
The graph of variation of potential with distance for a dipole and a point charge is as follow.

Special Cases:
(1) For potential at point on the dipole axis `theta =0 or pi` hence `V_(a)= pm (kp)/(r^(2))`
(2) For potential at point in the equatorial plane `theta= (pi)/(2)`
` :. V_(e) =0`