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- PHY102 Physics II © Dr.Cem Özdoğan
- 22-9 A Dipole in an Electric Field
- When an electric dipole is placed in a region where there is an external electric field, E, electrostatic forces act on the charged ends of the dipole.
- If the electric field is uniform, those forces act in opposite directions and with the same magnitude F =qE.
- Although the net force on the dipole from the field is zero, and the center of mass of the dipole does not move, the forces on the charged ends do produce a net torque on the dipole about its center of mass.
- The center of mass lies on the line connecting the charged ends, at some distance x from one end and a distance d-x from the other end.
- The net torque is: