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Derive the expression for potential energy stored when an electric dipole placed in electric field?
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Derive the expression for potential energy stored when an electric dip...

Considera dipole with charges +q and -q placed in a uniform eletric field as shown in figure.
In unifor electric field, dipole experiences a torque τ, which is given by
τ = pxE
where p is electric dipole moment. Torque τ will tend to rotate the dipole if p is not parallel to E.
Suppose an external torque τext is applied to neutalize this torque and rotates the dipole from an angle θo to θ1
at an infinitesimal angular speed and without angular acceleration. The amount of workdon by the external torque will be given by
W =

This work is stored as the potential energy of the system.
We can then assosciate potential energy U(θ) with an inclination θ of the dipole. Inorder to choose the
reference angular position where potential Energy is considered as zero, we select θo as π/2 as the reference angular position.
We can then write U(θ) = pE( cos(π/2) - cosθ) = -pE cosθ = -pxE
 
when θ = 0 , i.e., p is aligned in the direction of E, potential energy is minimum.
when θ = π , i.e., p is aligned in the oposite direction of E, potential energy is maximum
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Derive the expression for potential energy stored when an electric dipole placed in electric field?
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