What is the total charge of an electric dipole?

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The correct answer is option 3. 0.

An electric dipole consists of two point charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign, separated by a distance. One charge is positive (+q) and the other is negative (-q). When these charges are brought together, they form an electric dipole.

The total charge of an electric dipole is calculated by considering the algebraic sum of the charges. Since one charge is positive and the other is negative, their magnitudes cancel each other out when added together. Mathematically:

Total charge = (+q) + (-q) = 0

Therefore, the total charge of an electric dipole is always zero. This means that electric dipoles have no net charge, as the positive and negative charges exactly balance each other out. This is a fundamental property of electric dipoles and is essential for understanding their behavior in electric fields and interactions with other charges.