A dipole moment p is placed in a uniform electric field E. What is the torque experienced by the dipole?

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Q: A dipole moment p is placed in a uniform electric field E. What is the torque experienced by the dipole?

Solution: Torque τ = p × E = pE sin θ, where θ is the angle between p and E.

Steps: 6

Step 1: Understand what a dipole moment (p) is. It is a measure of the separation of positive and negative charges in a system.
Step 2: Know what a uniform electric field (E) is. It is a region where a charged particle experiences a constant force.
Step 3: Recognize that when a dipole is placed in an electric field, it experiences a torque (τ) that tends to align it with the field.
Step 4: The formula for torque (τ) is given by τ = p × E, which means the torque is the cross product of the dipole moment and the electric field.
Step 5: The magnitude of the torque can also be expressed as τ = pE sin θ, where θ is the angle between the dipole moment and the electric field.
Step 6: Remember that sin θ helps determine how effective the torque is based on the angle of the dipole relative to the field.