how does a dipole exist? when there are two opposite charges in a dipole why don't they attract each other how come there remains a separation and a dipole exists?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Good question, but same applies to two charged spheres or two plates of a capacitor or when we speak about potential as the energy to bring a charge from the infinite (can we do that?) to a certain point in an electric field. Dipole is also an abstraction to study their effect in the distance. The effect of two charges, with opposite sign that are very close compared to the distance from where we observe them. But agree with you, two charges free in the space are not a stable system. However, there are situations that are dipole-like and then the abstraction can be used to study their effects

ghazi · Answer

I guess a dipole can exist if you will see the potential energy curve...see they do attract each other but remain stable for a closest distance at which their potential energy is minimum beyond which if they brought closer the force between them will become repulsive to keep the potential energy at least...so i guess potential energy curve gives the answer ...

ghazi · Answer

|dw:1343771833951:dw| up to r distance two charges will attract each other and will remain together but after that potential energy increases again so force between them will become repulsive therefore i guess dipoles do exist