Final answer:
The electric dipole moment of the system composed of ± 2.0 nc charges spaced 3.0 mm apart on the y-axis is 6.0 × 10^-12 C·m in the positive y-direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the concept of an electric dipole moment, which is a vector quantity defined as the product of the magnitude of one of the charges and the vector distance between them. In this case, we have an electric dipole consisting of two point charges, ± 2.0 nc (nanocoulombs), separated by a distance of 3.0 mm along the y-axis. To calculate the electric dipole moment (p), we use the formula p = qd, where q is the charge magnitude and d is the separation distance between the charges. It's important to note that the vector direction of the electric dipole moment points from the negative charge to the positive charge.
The magnitude of the electric dipole moment is:
- p = qd
- p = 2.0 × 10^-9 C × 3.0 × 10^-3 m
- p = 6.0 × 10^-12 C·m
The vector would point in the positive y-direction because we define it from the negative charge to the positive charge, which in this case is along the y-axis. Therefore, the electric dipole moment of the system is 6.0 × 10^-12 C·m in the positive y-direction.