E

Q
L

−Q

Figure 1: A dipole in an electric field.

Electric and Magnetic Fields - Homework 1

Due Friday 25th January 2019
Chris White (christopher.white@qmul.ac.uk)

This homework takes the form of two practice exam questions. Section A of the exam will feature shorter
questions worth 5 marks, and section B will feature longer questions with multiple parts, worth 25 marks in
total.

Question A. Two point charges, each of charge 2C, are located at positions (-2,0) and (2,0) in the (x, y)
plane, where all distances are in metres. What is the electric field vector at position (0,2)?
[5]
Question B. Two point charges of charge Q and −Q separated by a fixed distance L form a dipole. Figure 1
shows a dipole in an external electric field E.
(a) By considering the forces on the charges, explain why the dipole will rotate.

[4].

(b) Derive an expression for the magnitude of the torque on the dipole, |G| (about its centre), in terms of
the charge Q, length L, electric field magnitude |E| and angle θ.

[6]

(c) It is conventional to define a vector µ called the dipole moment, whose direction points from the
negative to the positive charge, and whose magnitude is

|µ| = QL.

Show that the (vector) torque on the dipole about its centre is given by

G = µ × E.

[4]
(d) A hydrogen fluoride (HF ) molecule can be modelled as a small positive charge 0.41e and a small
negative charge −0.41e, separated by a small distance d, where e is the magnitude of the charge on
the electron. If the magnitude of the dipole moment is

|µ| = 6.08 × 10−30 Cm,

what is the distance d?

[6]

(e) If an electric field of magnitude 0.5 NC−1 is applied, what is the magnitude of the torque on a hydrogen
fluoride molecule which is at 45◦ to the field?

[5]