When an electric dipole is placed in a non uniform electric field what does the dipole experience?

Content Curator

When an electric dipole is placed in a non-uniform electric field, it experiences a net force and a net torque.

The electric field exerts a force on the charges of the dipole, with the positive charge experiencing a force in the direction of the electric field.
The negative charge experiencing a force in the opposite direction. As a result, the dipole experiences a net force that tends to align it with the direction of the electric field.
At the same time, the non-uniform electric field produces a torque on the dipole, causing it to rotate.
The torque is given by the cross product of the dipole moment vector and the electric field vector.
The magnitude of the torque is maximum when the dipole is oriented perpendicular to the electric field, and zero when the dipole is aligned parallel to the electric field.

The net effect of the force and torque is to cause the dipole to rotate and align with the direction of the electric field. This process is known as dielectric polarization, and is important in many applications, such as in the functioning of capacitors, where it helps to store electrical energy.

Electric Dipole in Non-uniform Electric Field

Electric Dipole in Non-uniform Electric Field

Check out:

Important Learning Concepts
Kirchhoff’s Rules	Wheatstone Bridge	Meter Bridge
Relation between Power and Resistance	Ampere	Circuit Diagram
Differences Between Acceleration and Velocity	Electrical Formula	Resistance Formula
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 1	Relation between Resistance and Length	Combination of Resistors-Series and Parallel
Cells, emf, Internal Resistance	Cells in Series and in Parallel	Drift Velocity

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.
A hydrogen atom consists of an electron revolving in a circular orbit of radius r with certain velocity v around a proton located at the nucleus of the atom. The electrostatic force of attraction between the revolving electron and the proton provides the requisite centripetal force to keep it in the orbit. According to Bohr’s model, an electron can revolve only in certain stable orbits. The angular momentum of the electron in these orbits is some integral multiple of \(\frac{h}{2π}\), where h is the Planck’s constant.

2.
Read the following paragraphs and answer the questions that follow.
A parallel plate capacitor consists of two conducting plates kept generally parallel to each other at a distance. When the capacitor is charged, the charge resides on the inner surfaces of the plates and an electric field is set up between them. Thus, electrostatic energy is stored in the capacitor.
The figure shows three large square metallic plates, each of side ‘L’, held parallel and equidistant from each other. The space between P1 and P2, and P2 and P3 is completely filled with mica sheets of dielectric constant ‘K’.
The plate P2 is connected to point A and the other plates P1 and P3 are connected to point B. Point A is maintained at a positive potential with respect to point B and the potential difference between A and B is V .

3.
A charge \( -6 \mu C \) is placed at the center B of a semicircle of radius 5 cm, as shown in the figure. An equal and opposite charge is placed at point D at a distance of 10 cm from B. A charge \( +5 \mu C \) is moved from point ‘C’ to point ‘A’ along the circumference. Calculate the work done on the charge.

View Solution

4.
Let \( \lambda_e \), \( \lambda_p \), and \( \lambda_d \) be the wavelengths associated with an electron, a proton, and a deuteron, all moving with the same speed. Then the correct relation between them is:

\( \lambda_d>\lambda_p>\lambda_e \)
\( \lambda_e>\lambda_p>\lambda_d \)
\( \lambda_p>\lambda_e>\lambda_d \)
\( \lambda_e = \lambda_p = \lambda_d \)

View Solution

5.
A proton moving with velocity \( V \) in a non-uniform magnetic field traces a path as shown in the figure. The path followed by the proton is always in the plane of the paper. What is the direction of the magnetic field in the region near points P, Q, and R? What can you say about relative magnitude of magnetic fields at these points?

View Solution

6.
In the circuit, three ideal cells of e.m.f. \( V \), \( V \), and \( 2V \) are connected to a resistor of resistance \( R \), a capacitor of capacitance \( C \), and another resistor of resistance \( 2R \) as shown in the figure. In the steady state, find (i) the potential difference between P and Q, (ii) the potential difference across capacitor C.

View Solution

When an electric dipole is placed in a non uniform electric field what does the dipole experience?

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

4.
Let \( \lambda_e \), \( \lambda_p \), and \( \lambda_d \) be the wavelengths associated with an electron, a proton, and a deuteron, all moving with the same speed. Then the correct relation between them is:

Similar Physics Concepts

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

When an electric dipole is placed in a non uniform electric field what does the dipole experience?

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

4.Let \( \lambda_e \), \( \lambda_p \), and \( \lambda_d \) be the wavelengths associated with an electron, a proton, and a deuteron, all moving with the same speed. Then the correct relation between them is:

Similar Physics Concepts

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

4.
Let \( \lambda_e \), \( \lambda_p \), and \( \lambda_d \) be the wavelengths associated with an electron, a proton, and a deuteron, all moving with the same speed. Then the correct relation between them is: