Question

Consider an electric dipole placed in a region of non-uniform electric field. Choose the correct statement out of the following options:

• A. The dipole will experience only a force
• B. The dipole will experience only a torque
• C. The dipole will experience both the force and torque
• D. The dipole will neither experience a force nor a torque

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Consider, a dipole AB placed in a non-uniform electric field.
Clearly, $\Rightarrow \left|F_A\right|\ne \left|F_B\right|$
Similarly, $\left|{\tau }_A\right|\ne \left|{\tau }_B\right|$
Thus, we can say that the dipole will experience a net force
$F_{\text{net }}=\left|F_A\right|-\left|F_B\right|$ and net torque
${\tau }_{\text{net }}=\left|{\tau }_A\right|-\left|{\tau }_B\right|$