An electric dipole of dipole moment p is placed in a uniform external electric field E. Then the

Question

An electric dipole of dipole moment p is placed in a uniform external electric field E. Then the (A) torque experienced by the dipole is E ×p (B) torque is zero if p is perpendicular to E E (C) torque is maximum if p is perpendicular to E (D) potential energy is maximum if p is parallel to E

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

When an electric dipole of dipole moment

p

is placed in a uniform external electric field

E

, it experiences a torque

τ

and is given by

τ = P \times E

In magnitude,

τ

=

PE s in θ

, where

θ

is the angle between

P

and

E

when

P

is perpendicular to

E

i.e.

9 0^{\circ}

then

τ = PE s in 9 0^{\circ} = pE

=maximum, or

τ_{ma x} = PE

Q. An electric dipole of dipole moment $p$ is placed in a uniform external electric field $E$ . Then the

torque experienced by the dipole is $E \times p$

torque is zero if $p$ is perpendicular to $E E$

torque is maximum if $p$ is perpendicular to $E$

potential energy is maximum if $p$ is parallel to $E$

potential energy is maximum if $p$ is perpendicular to $E$

Q. An electric dipole of dipole moment p​ is placed in a uniform external electric field E. Then the

torque experienced by the dipole is E×p​

torque is zero if p​ is perpendicular to EE

torque is maximum if p​ is perpendicular to E

potential energy is maximum if p​ is parallel to E