A dipole is placed in a uniform electric field. What is the torque experienced b
Practice Questions
Q1
A dipole is placed in a uniform electric field. What is the torque experienced by the dipole? (2023)
pE
pE sin(θ)
pE cos(θ)
Zero
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A dipole is placed in a uniform electric field. What is the torque experienced by the dipole? (2023)
Step 1: Understand what a dipole is. A dipole consists of two equal and opposite charges separated by a distance.
Step 2: Know what an electric field is. A uniform electric field is a region where a charged particle experiences a constant force.
Step 3: Identify the dipole moment (p). The dipole moment is a vector quantity that represents the strength and direction of the dipole.
Step 4: Recognize the angle (θ). This is the angle between the dipole moment (p) and the electric field (E).
Step 5: Use the formula for torque (τ). The torque experienced by the dipole in the electric field is calculated using the formula τ = pE sin(θ).
Step 6: Substitute the values. If you know the values of p, E, and θ, you can plug them into the formula to find the torque.
Torque on a Dipole – The torque experienced by a dipole in an electric field depends on the dipole moment, the strength of the electric field, and the angle between them.
Dipole Moment – The dipole moment (p) is a vector quantity that represents the strength and direction of a dipole.
Electric Field – A uniform electric field (E) is a field where the electric force is constant in magnitude and direction throughout the region.
Angle Dependency – The torque is maximized when the angle (θ) between the dipole moment and the electric field is 90 degrees (sin(θ) = 1).
