A dipole of electric dipole moment p is placed in a uniform electric field of strength E . If θ is the angle between positive directions of p and E, then the potential energy of the electric dipole is largest when θ is

Question

A dipole of electric dipole moment p is placed in a uniform electric field of strength E . If θ is the angle between positive directions of p and E, then the potential energy of the electric dipole is largest when θ is (A) (π/4) (B) (π/2) (C) π (D) zero

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

The potential energy of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field is U=- vecp ⋅ vecE=-p E cos θ For U to be maximum cos θ=-1 ⇒ θ=π

Q. A dipole of electric dipole moment $p$ is placed in a uniform electric field of strength $E .$ If $θ$ is the angle between positive directions of $p$ and $E$ , then the potential energy of the electric dipole is largest when $θ$ is

$\frac{π}{4}$

$\frac{π}{2}$

$π$

zero

The potential energy of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field is
$U = - p \cdot E = - pE cos θ$
For $U$ to be maximum $cos θ = - 1 \Rightarrow θ = π$

Q. A dipole of electric dipole moment p is placed in a uniform electric field of strength E. If θ is the angle between positive directions of p and E, then the potential energy of the electric dipole is largest when θ is

4π​

2π​

π

zero

The potential energy of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field is U=−p​⋅E=−pEcosθ For U to be maximum cosθ=−1⇒θ=π

Q. A dipole of electric dipole moment $p$ is placed in a uniform electric field of strength $E .$ If $θ$ is the angle between positive directions of $p$ and $E$ , then the potential energy of the electric dipole is largest when $θ$ is

$\frac{π}{4}$

$\frac{π}{2}$

$π$

The potential energy of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field is
$U = - p \cdot E = - pE cos θ$
For $U$ to be maximum $cos θ = - 1 \Rightarrow θ = π$