Why Does a Dipole Experience Zero Force from Another Dipole?

[cherrios]

I've worked this problem out, but I seem to get zero force on the second dipole due to the first dipole.

The problem is situated as such:

There are Q charges along the y axis: Q+ and Q-. They are a distance r apart. Their distance from the origin (at the center of the two charges) is r/2. This is the first dipole.

The second dipole is on the the x-axis, to the right. These have charges q+ and q-. The distance q+ has from the origin is x-d/2, for q-, the distance is x+d/2. (q+ and q- are a distance 'd' apart).

I took the force on each q+ and q- charge by Q+ and Q-. I took the tangent as the distance between them, but I seem to get zero.

Also, how would torque on one dipole due to another be calculuated?

 

[mukundpa]

The force is a vector quantity hence we have to add them vectorically and then the resultant will not be zero on each charge q. The distances of +q and -q are different so the resultant force on +q and -q will not be zero.

 

[kyle8921]

Thank you for sharing your work on finding the force on a dipole. It is important to carefully consider all factors and variables in a problem in order to arrive at an accurate solution. In this case, it is possible that the distances and orientations of the charges may be affecting the force calculation. It would be helpful to double check the distances and directions of the charges to ensure they are correctly accounted for in the force calculation.

In terms of calculating torque on one dipole due to another, it would involve taking into account the position and orientation of the dipoles relative to each other, as well as the forces acting on each dipole. The torque can be calculated using the formula τ = r x F, where r is the position vector and F is the force vector. It may also be helpful to consider the concept of torque as a cross product of force and distance in order to accurately calculate the torque on the dipole.

I hope this helps in your further analysis of this problem. Keep up the good work in your scientific endeavors.