Menu

Dipole for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'daɪ,poʊl

What does Dipole really mean?

50 1
50

Hey there! So, the word "dipole" can sound a little tricky, but I'm here to break it down for you in a way that's super easy to understand. A dipole refers to a molecule that has two opposite electric charges, kind of like a magnet with a north and south pole. These charges are caused by the unequal sharing of electrons between different atoms in the molecule.

Now, think of it like this: imagine a water molecule, which is a common example of a dipole. The oxygen atom in the water molecule has a slight negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms have a slight positive charge. This creates a dipole moment, where the molecule overall has a slightly positive and slightly negative end.

So, when we talk about a dipole in chemistry or physics, we're basically talking about a molecule that has this kind of separation of charges. It's like having a little bit of positive and negative energy on opposite ends of the molecule.

In addition to this, dipole can also refer to a pair of equal and opposite electric charges or magnetic poles, which creates an asymmetrical distribution of charges.

I hope that makes sense! Let me know if you have any other questions about this word or anything else. Remember, you're doing awesome!

Revised and Fact checked by Liam Lewis on 2023-11-15 04:58:41

Dipole In a sentece

Learn how to use Dipole inside a sentece

  • The water molecule is a dipole because it has a positive end and a negative end due to the uneven distribution of electrons.
  • When you rub a balloon on your hair and it sticks to the wall, it is because of the dipole-dipole interactions between the balloon and the wall.
  • In a magnet, the positive and negative poles create a dipole that allows the magnet to attract or repel other magnets.
  • The Earth's magnetic field is a result of the dipole created by the movement of molten iron in the outer core.
  • Infrared spectroscopy measures the dipole moments of molecules to determine their structure and composition.

Dipole Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

dipole antenna dipole antenna

Dipole Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

aerial aerial antenna antenna couple couple transmitting aerial transmitting aerial

Dipole Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.

electric dipole electric dipole electric doublet electric doublet magnetic dipole magnetic dipole