Torque on an electric dipole

Consider a dipole that is placed in a uniform external field ‘E’ to calculate the torque experienced by the dipole when placed in an external field. The positive charge will be subjected to an electric force of ‘qE’ magnitude in the upward direction, while the negative charge will be subjected to an electric force of ‘qE’ magnitude in the downward direction.

Because the net force is zero, it can be observed that the dipole is in transitional equilibrium. What is, however, the rotational equilibrium? In this scenario, the dipole may remain fixed but rotates with a certain angular velocity. This fact has been demonstrated experimentally, and it indicates that both electrostatic forces (qE) behave as clockwise torque. As a result, when the dipole is put in a uniform external electric field, it rotates. Always keep in mind that torque always works in pairs. Furthermore, its magnitude is the resulting product of force and its arm. The arm may be thought of as the distance between the point where force is applied and the point where rotation occurs for the dipole.

Check: What is the SI Unit of Torque?

Science is a strange subject that never ceases to amaze you as new subjects are presented. We’re all aware that charge occurs everywhere around us and that its existence causes a variety of natural events. Furthermore, positive and negative charges exist in many forms, displaying various characteristics in the presence of a stimulating field.

Have you ever come across the term “electric dipole”? This unusual configuration of electric charges, i.e., positive and negative charges, creates an intriguing physics idea. To be more specific, Electric Dipole is a separation of positive and negative charges.

Consider a pair of electric charges with opposite signs but equal magnitude that are separated by a much smaller distance. The behavior of an Electric Dipole in the presence of an external field is now our main focus. Let’s review the characteristics of the torque acting on an electric dipole in a uniform electric field before moving on to the properties of the torque acting on an electric dipole in a uniform electric field.