Two charges 3.2×10^-19 C and -3.2×10^-9 C kept 2.4A apart forms a dip...
Calculating Electric Dipole Moment:
The electric dipole moment (p) can be calculated using the formula p = qd, where q is the charge and d is the distance between the charges. Given that the charges are 2.4A apart, we can calculate the electric dipole moment of the system as follows:
p = (3.2×10^-19 C)(2.4A) = 7.68×10^-19 C·m
Electric Potential Energy:
The electric potential energy (U) of a dipole in an electric field can be calculated using the formula U = -pEcosθ, where E is the electric field strength, θ is the angle between the dipole moment and the electric field, and the negative sign indicates that the dipole experiences a torque in the field.
Calculating the Angle:
Since the dipole is placed in a uniform electric field, the dipole moment will align with the field direction, so the angle θ between them is 0. Therefore, cosθ = 1 and the potential energy of the dipole can be calculated as:
U = -(7.68×10^-19 C·m)(4×10^5 V/m) = -3.072×10^-13 J
Explanation:
When the dipole is placed in a uniform electric field, it will experience a torque and align with the field direction. This alignment results in a potential energy that is negative and proportional to the dipole moment and the electric field strength. The negative sign indicates that the dipole is in a stable equilibrium position in the field.