Is dipole moment a force or work?

Since moment of force is torque; & torque is work; I don't know whether to make the same assumption for dipole moment. Well, thanks.

 

=)

 

Or maybe its something else?

Here's a quick way to answer this type of question for yourself:

 

Check the fundamental units of the formula for dipole moment. If it's work it will have the units of energy. If it doesn't have those units it can't be work (which it is not by the way).

 

p = q * d where q is charge in Coulombs and d is vector distance between two charges + and - q.

 

Units of p then are Coulombs * Distance or C * Meters. Work has units of Joules or Newton Meters or kg M^2/ S^2.

 

So why is p called a moment? hmmm...

 

Robert

Well, I was never given that formula; what does Cuolomb-Metres stand for?