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Dipole and Dipole Moment

A physical dipole is a particle, atom or molecular structure exhibiting two equal and opposite charges. The charges can be electric or magnetic. Dipoles can be characterized by their dipole moment, which is a vector quantity (field description). The moment occurs when the charge points from one pole toward the other, and the field can be measured by the simple formula of magnitude (strength of each charge) times the distance between the charges.

The electron displays a magnetic dipole moment as an intrinsic property of the particle. Any configuration of charges or currents has a dipole moment which describes the dipole in terms of the field which provides the best approximation of the given configuration at large distances.

Molecules may be polarized, thus exhibit dipole moments. This can be permanent as in molecules that bind oppositely charged atoms, or instantaneous when electrons become concentrated at one place in the molecule. Dipole moment can also be induced when a permanent dipolar molecule repels another molecule's electrons.

Web Resources On Dipole and Dipole Moment

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/diph2o.html
http://www.chem.tamu.edu/organic/Spring99/dipolemoments.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole

Book Resources On Dipole and Dipole Moment

Dielectric Behavior and Structure: Dielectric Constant and Loss, Dipole Moment and Molecular Structure by Charles Phelps Smyth
Dipole Moments: Their Measurement and Application in Chemistry by Le Fevre

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