An electric dipole consists of two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance. This arrangement creates an electric field that can influence other charges nearby. The dipole moment, a vector quantity, measures the strength and direction of the dipole, defined as the product of the charge and the distance between the charges. Electric dipoles are commonly found in molecules, such as water, where the distribution of electrons creates a positive and negative end. They play a crucial role in various physical phenomena, including polarization, dielectric materials, and interactions with electromagnetic fields.