| DESCRIPTION:
The animation shows a hypothetical mechanical device
that separates electric charge to produce an electric
dipole. Initially, we have a negative and postive
charge on top of each other. There is no net charge
and no electric field anywhere in space. Each charge
is connected to a rod, and the rods are pulled apart.
As the rods are pulled apart to their
maximum extent, the charges are separated slightly.
This separation takes place over a time T, after which
the charges remain a fixed distance apart. This
separation generates electric field. Initally we see
a
pulse of radiation of radial extent cT that propogates
outward at the speed of light. Once that pulse
disappears, we have left the classice static electric
dipole field.
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