Torque acting on a Dipole in a uniform Electric Field.. Electrostatic

The torque (τ) acting on an electric dipole in a uniform electric field can be calculated using the formula:

τ = pEsinθ

Where:

• τ is the torque
• p is the dipole moment (which is the product of the magnitude of the charges and the distance between them)
• E is the electric field strength
• θ is the angle between the dipole moment and the electric field

Here are the steps to calculate the torque:

1. Determine the dipole moment (p). This can be calculated by multiplying the magnitude of the charges by the distance between them.

2. Determine the strength of the electric field (E). This is usually given in the problem.

3. Determine the angle (θ) between the dipole moment and the electric field. This is also usually given in the problem.

4. Substitute the values of p, E, and θ into the formula τ = pEsinθ to calculate the torque.

5. If the dipole is in equilibrium, the net torque acting on it is zero. This happens when the dipole moment is aligned with the electric field (θ = 0) or in the opposite direction (θ = 180°). In these cases, the torque will be zero because sin0° = sin180° = 0.