UNIT- 1

ELECTROSTATICS
SHEET-8
ELECTRIC DIPOLE
 1MARK QUESTIONS
1. What is the angle between the direction of electric field at any (i) axial point and (ii) equatorial point due to an
electric dipole?
2. At what points, is the electric dipole field intensity parallel to the line joining the charges?
3. The distance of the field point on the axis of a small dipole is doubled. By what factor, will the electric field, due to
the dipole change?
4. The distance of the field point on the equatorial plane of a small electric dipole is halved. By what factor, will the
electric field, due to the dipole change?
5. Define the electric dipole moment in terms of torque experiences by dipole in electric field.
6. An electric dipole of dipole moment P is placed in a uniform electric field E. Identify two pairs of perpendicular
vectors in the expression for torque experienced by the dipole.
7. A charge ‘q’ is moved from a point A above a dipole of dipole ‘p’ to a point B below the dipole in equatorial plane
without acceleration. Find the work done in the process.

8. An electric dipole is formed by +4C and –4 C charges at 5 mm distance. Calculate the dipole moment.
Ans. 2×10–8 Cm
9. An electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field. What is the net force acting on it.

 2 & 3 MARKS QUESTIONS

10. Define electric dipole moment. Give its dimension and SI unit. Write the magnitude and direction of electric field
intensity due to an electric dipole of length ‘2a’ at the midpoint of the line joining the two charges.
11. An electric dipole is held in a uniform electric field at an angle θ, using suitable diagram, explain:
a. it does not undergo any translatory motion;
b. it experiences a torque. In which condition electric dipole experiences zero torque but non zero force?
12. An electric dipole is situated in an uniform electric field. Using diagram, shown its condition for the
(i) stable equilibrium (ii) unstable equilibrium (iii) max. torque, experience by it.

 IMPORTANT DERIVATIONS & 5 MARKS QUESTIONS

13. Find an expression for the electric field strength of an electric dipole at a distance point situated:
(i) on the end on position (ii) on the broadside on position.

PHYSICS BY MAYUR SHARMA

MOB: : +91 9897505505
Page 1
 14. An electric dipole is held in uniform E (i) using suitable diagram show that it does not undergo any translatory motion
or net force acting on dipole is zero, (ii) derive an expression for torque acting on it and specify its direction.
15. An electric dipole of dipole moment P is placed in a uniform electric field E. Write an expression for torque
experienced by the dipole. Identify two pairs of perpendicular vectors in the expression. Show diagrammatically the
orientation of the dipole in the field for which the torque is, (i) max, (ii) half of the max., (iii) zero.
16. Show that the potential at a point on the equatorial line of the dipole is zero.
17. Obtain an expression of electric potential due to an electric dipole on the axial line of dipole.
18. Derive an expression for the total work done in rotating the dipole through an angle θ in uniform electric field.

 NUMERICALS
19. Calculate the field due to an electric dipole of length 10 cm and consisting of charges of ±100μC at a point
20 cm from each charge. Ans. 1.125 ×107 N/C
0 4
20. An electric dipole, when held at 30 with w.r.t. a uniform electric field of 10 N/C experiences a torque of
9 ×10-16 Nm. Calculate dipole moment of the dipole. Ans. 1.8×10-19 C m.
21. Three charges +q, -2q and +q are located at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side 2l. What is the equivalent
dipole moment of the arrangement?
22. Two charges of ±0.2μμC are placed 10-6 cm apart. Calculate the electric field at an axial point at a distance
of 10cm from their mid point. Ans. 3.6 ×10-8 N/C
0
23. An electric dipole of length 4cm,when placed with making an angle of 60 with a uniform electric field experiences a
torque of 4√3Nm. Calculate the (i) magnitude of the electric field, (ii) potential energy of the
dipole, if the dipole has charges of ±8nC. Ans. 2.5 × 1010 N/C & -4 J
-6
24. An electric dipole consists of two opposite charges of magnitude 1.0 × 10 C separated by 2.0 cm. The dipole is
placed in an external uniform field of 1.0 × 105 N/C. Find : (a) the maximum torque exerted by the field on the dipole
(b) the work which an external agent will have to do in turning the dipole through 180o from the position 00 .
Ans. 2×10-3 Nm, 4×10-3J
25. (a) Calculate the maximum torque experienced by a water molecule whose electric dipole moment is 6.2 × 10-30Cm,
when it is placed in an electric field of intensity 106 N/C.
(b) Find the work done that must be done to take a water molecule aligned with the above field and set it antiparallel
to the field. Ans. 6.2 × 10-24Nm, 1.24 × 10-23J
–8
26. Calculate the amount of work done un rotating a dipole, of dipole moment 3×10 cm, from its position of the stable
equilibrium to the position of unstable equilibrium, in a uniform electric field of intensity 104 N/C. Ans. 6×10–4 J
27. A system has two charges qA=2.5×10–7 C and qB=–2.5×10–7 C located at points A(0, 0, –15 cm) and B=(0, 0, +15 cm)
respectively. What are the total charge and electric dipole moment of the system? Ans. 7.5×10–8 Cm
28. Two small identical electric dipoles AB and CD, each of dipole moment ‘p’ are kept at an angle of 120° as shown in
the figure. What is the resultant dipole moment of this combination? If this system is subjected to electric field ( E )
directed along +X direction, what will be the magnitude and direction of the torque acting on dipole?

Fig.(Q-27) Fig. (Q-28)

PHYSICS BY MAYUR SHARMA
MOB: : +91 9897505505
Page 2