Potential Due to Electric Dipole

The potential of an electric dipole can be found by superposing the point charge potentials of the two charges.

Special Cases

Case 1: When point P lies on the axial line of the dipole on the side of positive charge, θ = 0 and cos θ = 1.

V = kp/r2

Case 2: When point P lies on the axial line of the dipole but on the side of negative charge, θ = 180º and cos θ = –1.

V = – kp/r2

Case 3: When point P lies on the equatorial line of the dipole (perpendicular bisector), θ = 90º and cos θ = 0.

Vequitorial = 0