Final answer:
The work done in moving a test charge q along the equatorial axis of an electric dipole depends on the electric field created by the dipole, but if the path lies entirely on the equatorial line, the work done is zero due to no change in electric potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked about the work done when moving a test charge q along the equatorial axis of an electric dipole. In a uniform electric field, work done W is calculated by the equation W = -q ∆V (Work equals negative charge times the change in electric potential). However, in the case of an electric dipole, the electric field is not uniform. It varies with position along the equatorial axis, and therefore, the calculation of work done is a more complex problem involving the integration of the force over the displacement.
To find the exact amount of work done, one would need the specific values of the charges and the separation distance between them, and then integrate the force that the dipole's electric field exerts on the test charge over the 1 cm distance moved. It's important to note that along the equatorial line of an electric dipole, the electric potential is zero, thus if the path of the charge movement is restricted to this equatorial line, the work done is zero since there's no change in electric potential.