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Dipoles, whether electric or magnetic, are characterised by their dipole moments, which are vector quantities. Two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance constitute an electric dipole, while a current carrying loop behaves as a magnetic dipole. Electric dipoles create electric fields around them. Electric dipoles experience a torque when placed in an external electric field.
An electric dipole of length 2 cm is placed at an angle of 30° with an electric field 2 × 10⁵ N/C. If the dipole experiences a torque of 8 × 10⁻³ Nm, the magnitude of either charge of the dipole, is
(i) Derive an expression for potential energy of an electric dipole p in an external uniform electric field E. When is the potential energy of the dipole (1) maximum, and (2) minimum ? (ii) An electric dipole consists of point charges − 1·0 pC and + 1·0 pC located at (0, 0) and (3 mm, 4 mm) respectively in x − y plane. An electric field E = (1000 V/m)î is switched on in the region. Find the torque acting on the dipole.
An electric dipole of dipole moment 2 × 10⁻⁸ C-m in a uniform electric field experiences a maximum torque of 6 × 10⁻⁴ N-m. The magnitude of electric field is
An electric dipole of dipole moment (p⃗) is kept in a uniform electric field E⃗. Show graphically the variation of torque acting on the dipole (τ) with its orientation (θ) in the field. Find the orientation in which torque is (i) zero and (ii) maximum.
Case study: A small electric dipole consists of charges +q = +5 nC and –q = –5 nC separated by a distance of 4 cm. The dipole is placed in a uniform external electric field of magnitude 10⁵ N C⁻¹, such that the dipole moment makes an angle of 30° with the field. The torque acting on the dipole is:
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