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Question 36 of 45

Q.An electric dipole consists of two opposite charges each of magnitude 1 μC1\,\mu C, separated by 2 cm. The dipole is placed in an external electric field of 10510^{5} N/C.
Calculate the:

(i) maximum torque experienced by the dipole and
(ii) work done by the external field to turn the dipole through 180°.
Maharashtra MsbshseMaharashtra HSC (MSBSHSE) Board 2023Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Torque and work-to-rotate of an electric dipole in a uniform field.

Dipole moment: p=q×(2a)=1×10−6×0.02=2×10−8 C mp = q\times(2a) = 1\times10^{-6}\times0.02 = 2\times10^{-8}\ \text{C m}.

(i) Maximum torque occurs when the dipole is perpendicular to the field (θ=90°\theta=90°):

τmax=pE=2×10−8×105=2×10−3 N m\tau_{max} = pE = 2\times10^{-8}\times10^{5} = 2\times10^{-3}\ \text{N m}

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