WORKSHEET 2

CH1: ELECTRIC DIPOLE

1. Define electric dipole moment. State its SI unit.

2. Derive an expression for the electric field intensity at a point on the equatorial line of an
electric dipole of dipole moment P and length 2a. What is the direction of this field?

3. Derive an expression for the electric field intensity at a point on the axial line of an
electric dipole of dipole moment P and length 2a. What is the direction of this field?
Draw a graph of E verses r for r>>a.

4. Define torque acting on a dipole of dipole moment P placed in a uniform electric field E
Express it in the vector form and point out the direction along which it acts. What
happens if the field is non-uniform? What would happen if the external field E is
increasing parallel to P & antiparallel to P

5. An electric dipole is held in uniform electric field. Using suitable diagram, show that it
does not undergo any translatory motion. Derive an expression for the torque acting on
this dipole.

6. Depict the orientation of the dipole in stable and unstable equilibrium in a uniform
electric field with diagram

7. An electric dipole of length 2cm is placed on an axis making an angle of 300 with a
uniform electric field of 105NC-1. If it experiences a torque of 10√3 Nm, calculate the
magnitude of charge on the dipole

8. Two small identical electrical 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 this?
9. An electric dipole is kept first to the left and then to the right of a negatively charged infinite
plane sheet having a uniform surface charge density. The arrows p1 and p2 show the directions
of its electric dipole. Identify for each case weather the dipole is in stable or unstable
equilibrium. Justify each answer