---
title: "A small electric dipole of dipole moment magnitude \\(p\\) is located at a distance \\(r\\) from a fixed positive point charge \\(+Q\\). The dipole moment vector \\(\\vec{p}\\) is oriented at an angle \\(\\theta\\) relative to the outward radial unit vector \\(\\hat{r}\\) pointing from \\(+Q\\) toward the center of the dipole. Which of the following expressions represents the radial component \\(F_r\\) of the net electric force acting on the dipole?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/117992/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T08:02:47+00:00"
---

# A small electric dipole of dipole moment magnitude \(p\) is located at a distance \(r\) from a fixed positive point charge \(+Q\). The dipole moment vector \(\vec{p}\) is oriented at an angle \(\theta\) relative to the outward radial unit vector \(\hat{r}\) pointing from \(+Q\) toward the center of the dipole. Which of the following expressions represents the radial component \(F_r\) of the net electric force acting on the dipole?

A small electric dipole of dipole moment magnitude \(p\) is located at a distance \(r\) from a fixed positive point charge \(+Q\). The dipole moment vector \(\vec{p}\) is oriented at an angle \(\theta\) relative to the outward radial unit vector \(\hat{r}\) pointing from \(+Q\) toward the center of the dipole. Which of the following expressions represents the radial component \(F_r\) of the net electric force acting on the dipole?

![A point charge labeled +Q sits at the origin. A dashed radial line extends outward to the upper right at a 30 degree angle to the horizontal, ending at a center point labeled r from +Q. At this center point, a small electric dipole vector p is drawn as an arrow making an angle \theta with the dashed radial line. An outward unit vector \hat{r} is shown along the dashed line pointing away from +Q. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785830567-Kk4s1l.jpg)

- **A.** \(\dfrac{p Q \cos\theta}{2\pi\varepsilon_0 r^3}\)
- **B.** -\(\dfrac{p Q \cos\theta}{2\pi\varepsilon_0 r^3}\)
- **C.** -\(\dfrac{p Q \cos\theta}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 r^3}\)
- **D.** -\(\dfrac{p Q \sin\theta}{2\pi\varepsilon_0 r^3}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/117992/*