A dipole is positioned at the center of a spherical surface. Which of the following statements is accurate?

The net electric flux passing through the sphere is zero.
The electric field vanishes at all points on the sphere.
The electric field is non-zero at every location on the sphere.
The electric field becomes zero along a circular path on the sphere.

Correct answer: The net electric flux passing through the sphere is zero.

Solution

A dipole has equal and opposite charges, so the total charge enclosed by the spherical surface is zero. By Gauss's law, the net electric flux through the sphere is therefore zero, even though the electric field at individual points on the sphere is non-zero.

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