Derive the torque on a dipole in an electric field.
Understand the Problem
The question asks for the derivation of the torque experienced by an electric dipole when placed in an electric field. This involves understanding the forces acting on the charges of the dipole and calculating the resulting torque.
Answer
$\tau = p \times E$ or $\tau = pE \sin(\theta)$, where $p$ is the dipole moment, $E$ is the electric field, and $\theta$ is the angle between them.
The torque on a dipole in an electric field is given by the formula $\tau = p \times E$, where $p$ is the dipole moment and $E$ is the electric field strength. The magnitude of the torque is $\tau = pE \sin(\theta)$, where $\theta$ is the angle between the dipole moment and the electric field.
Answer for screen readers
The torque on a dipole in an electric field is given by the formula $\tau = p \times E$, where $p$ is the dipole moment and $E$ is the electric field strength. The magnitude of the torque is $\tau = pE \sin(\theta)$, where $\theta$ is the angle between the dipole moment and the electric field.
More Information
The torque tends to align the dipole with the electric field.
Tips
Ensure that the units are consistent when calculating the torque. The dipole moment is a vector pointing from the negative to the positive charge.
Sources
- Torque on an Electric Dipole in a Uniform Electric Field - BYJU'S - byjus.com
- Torque on a Dipole in a Uniform Electric Field - GeeksforGeeks - geeksforgeeks.org
- Intro to torque on a dipole in uniform electric field - Khan Academy - khanacademy.org
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