How this calculator works
For a neutral pair, dipole moment points from the negative charge to the positive charge and has magnitude charge times their full separation. For several particles, the vector is the sum of each signed charge multiplied by its displacement from the reference point. A neutral system has an origin-independent dipole; a system with nonzero net charge does not. Rows use coulombs and metres even when pair mode uses other display units.
Formula
Pair: p = |q|d. System: p_vector = sum(q_i (r_i - r_reference)); |p| = sqrt(px² + py² + pz²).
Worked example
Charges +2 C and -2 C separated by 3 m form a dipole of magnitude 6 C m. In system mode, +1 C at (1,0,0) m and -1 C at the origin give px = 1 C m and py = pz = 0.
Advertisement
Frequently asked questions
Is separation the half-distance?
No. Enter the full distance from the negative particle to the positive particle.
Why can the reference point change a system result?
Moving the reference subtracts net charge times the displacement. This vanishes only when total charge is zero.
Can I use noncollinear charges?
Yes. System mode sums all three vector components for up to five charge-position rows.