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- PHY102 Physics II © Dr.Cem Özdoğan
- Potential energy can be associated with the orientation of an electric dipole in an electric field.
- The dipole has its least potential energy when it is in its equilibrium orientation, which is when its moment p is lined up with the field E.
- The expression for the potential energy of an electric dipole in an external electric field is simplest if we choose the potential energy to be zero when the angle (Fig.22-19) is 90°.
- The potential energy U of the dipole at any other value of can be found by calculating the work W done by the field on the dipole when the dipole is rotated to that value of from 90°.
- 22-9 A Dipole in an Electric Field