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If an electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field ______ will act on the dipole.
  • a)
    A force but no torque
  • b)
    Both force and torque
  • c)
    Torque but no force
  • d)
    No torque or force
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
If an electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field ______ wil...
Explanation:
When an electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field, it experiences a torque but no net force. This is because the electric field exerts equal and opposite forces on the charges of the dipole, resulting in a net force of zero. However, the two forces produce a torque on the dipole, causing it to rotate until it aligns with the electric field.

To understand this concept better, let us consider the following points:

1. Electric Dipole: An electric dipole consists of two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance. The direction of the dipole is from the negative charge to the positive charge.

2. Uniform Electric Field: A uniform electric field is one in which the direction and magnitude of the electric field are the same at all points.

3. Torque: Torque is the rotational equivalent of force. It is the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the pivot point to the line of action of the force.

4. Force: Force is a push or pull exerted on an object due to the interaction with another object.

Now, let us consider an electric dipole placed in a uniform electric field:

• Since the electric field is uniform, the force on the positive charge and the negative charge of the dipole will be equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

• As a result, there will be no net force on the dipole, since the two forces cancel each other out.

• However, there will be a torque on the dipole due to the two equal and opposite forces acting at a distance from each other.

• The torque will cause the dipole to rotate until it aligns with the direction of the electric field.

• Once the dipole is aligned with the electric field, there will be no torque acting on it, and it will remain in that position.

Therefore, we can conclude that when an electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field, it experiences a torque but no net force.
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Community Answer
If an electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field ______ wil...
Dipole is the combination of two equal but opposite charges, kept at a certain distance. If it is placed in a uniform electric field, both the charges will suffer the same but opposite forces on them. As a result, the net force on the dipole becomes zero, but due to equal and opposite forces acting on two different points, there is a net torque acting on the dipole.
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