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Electrostatic Potential And Capacitance

Question
CBSEENPH12037384

An electric dipole of length 4 cm, when placed with its axis making an angle of 60° with a uniform electric field experiences a torque of 43 Nm. Calculate the
(i) magnitude of the electric field.
(ii) potential energy of the dipole, if the dipole has charges of ± 8nC.

Solution

Given, 
length of the elctric dipole = 4cm=4×10-2 m

angle made with the elctric field-θ=60

Torque experienced by the dipole-τ = 43 Nm

charge on the dipole-q=±8nC = ±8×10-9 C

i) magnitude of Electric field-E
           
              τ= pE sinθ    = q × 2a × E sinθ 

      43 = 8×10-9 × 4×10-2 × E × sin 60°
           E = 43×232 ×10-11×3    = 14×1011     = 2.5 × 1010 NC-1

(ii) magnitude of potential energy of the dipole
  U = -pE cos θ

    = -q×2a×E cos θ

    =-8×10-9×2×10-2×2.5×1010 cos 60°= - 2J.

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