Question

The unit of electric dipole moment is:
(A) newton
(B) coulomb
(C) farad
(D) debye

Answer 1

The two charges separated by the very small dipole constitute the electric dipole. The electric dipole moment of an electric dipole is defined as the product of the charge and the perpendicular distance between the charges. These two charges are attracted to each other by the force of the electrostatic force.

Useful formula:
The formula of the electric dipole moment is given by
$p = qd$
Where $p$ is the electric dipole moment, $q$ is the charge and $d$ is the perpendicular distance between the charges.
Complete step by step solution:
The dipole is formed when the two equal and the opposite charges separated by the finite distance from each other. The formula of the electric dipole moment is taken,

$p = qd$
The unit of the charge is coulomb and the unit of the distance is metre. Hence the unit of the dipole moment is coulomb metre. Hence the $SI$ unit of the electric dipole moment is $Cm$ . The $C.G.S$ unit of the electric dipole moment if debye. Where the unit Newton is for the force, coulomb is for charge and the farad is the unit of the capacitance. Hence other than debye, all are the options of the other parameters. Hence the unit of the electric dipole moment is debye.

Thus the option (D) is correct.

Note: The dipole moment helps in the determination of the strength of the dipole. The electric dipole when placed at the electric field, it experiences some of the torque. The torque will be maximum when the dipole of the charges is at right angles to the electric field.