Electric Dipoles in Electric Fields - Torque, Work and Energy

Comprehensive quiz covering torque, work done, potential energy, and forces experienced by electric dipoles in both uniform and non-uniform electric fields. Includes calculations of torque magnitude, work done in rotation, oscillation periods, and dipole behavior near other charges.

44 Questions Published

Questions

Question 1 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of moment $ \vec { p } $ is placed in a uniform electric field$\vec { E }$ . Then
(i) The torque on the dipole is $\vec { p } \times \vec { E } $.
(ii) The potential energy of the system is $\vec { p } \cdot \vec { E } $.
(iii) The resultant force on the dipole is zero.
Choose the correct option.

  1. (i), (ii) and (iii) are correct
  2. (i) and (iii) are correct and (ii) is wrong
  3. Only (i) is wrong
  4. (i) and (ii) are correct and (iii) is wrong
Question 2 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of length 20 cm having $\pm3 \times { 10 }^{ -3 }$ C charge placed at 60 with respect to a uniform electric field experiences a torque of magnitude 6 N m. the potential energy of the dipole is:

  1. -2$\sqrt { 3 }$ J
  2. 5$\sqrt { 3 }$ J
  3. -3$\sqrt { 2 }$ J
  4. 3$\sqrt { 5 }$ J
Question 3 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole is kept on the axis of a uniformly charged ring at distance $\frac{R}{\sqrt{2}}$ from the centre of the ring. The direction of the dipole moment is along the axis. The dipole moment is P, charge of the ring is Q & radius of the ring is R. The force on the dipole is ___________________.

  1. (a) $\frac{4 k P Q}{3\sqrt{3} R^{2}}$
  2. (b) $\frac{4 k P Q}{3\sqrt{3} R^{3}}$
  3. (c) $\frac{2 k P Q}{3\sqrt{3} R^{2}}$
  4. (d) zero
Question 4 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Two electric dipoles of dipole moment $2 \space cm$ and $4 \space cm$ respectively are kept inside a cube of side $'a' \space m$. Total electric flux linked with the cube is (in SI units)

  1. $\dfrac{6}{\varepsilon _0}$
  2. $\dfrac{2}{\varepsilon _0}$
  3. $\dfrac{4}{\varepsilon _0}$
  4. none of these
Question 5 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole is kept in a non-uniform electric field. It experiences

  1. a force and a torque
  2. a force but not a torque
  3. a torque but no force
  4. neither a force nor a torque
Question 6 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole placed with its axis in the direction of a uniform electric field experiences:

  1. a force but not torque
  2. a torque but no force
  3. a force as well as a torque
  4. neither a force nor a torque
Question 7 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of moment $p$ is lying along a uniform electric field $E$. The work done in rotating the dipole by $90^{o}$ is:

  1. $pE$
  2. $\sqrt{2}\ pE$
  3. $\dfrac{pE}{2}$
  4. $2p\ E$
Question 8 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of momentum $3 \times {10}^{-8}\ Cm$ is placed in an electric field of $6 \times {10}^{4}\ N/C$ with is axis making an angle of $30^o$ with the field . Find the torque acting on the dipole.

  1. $ (9 \times 10^{-5} )N-m$
  2. $ (9 \times 10^{-4} )N-m$
  3. $ (9 \times 10^{-3} )N-m$
  4. $ (90 \times 10^{-8} )N-m$
Question 9 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

A neutral water molecule $ (H _2 O) $ in its vapour state has an electric dipole moment of $ 2 \times 10^{-24} C-m. $ If the molecule is placed in an electric field of $ 2 \times 10^{4} NC^{ _1} $ , the maximum torque that the field can exert on it is nearly.

  1. $ 4 \times 10^{-20} N-m $
  2. $ 6 \times 10^{-20} N-m $
  3. $ 8 \times 10^{-20} N-m $
  4. $ 2 \times 10^{-18} N-m $
Question 10 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

A dipole is placed parallel to the electric field. If W is the work done in rotating the dipole by $60$, then the work done in rotating it by $180$ is:

  1. $ 2W$
  2. $ 3W$
  3. $ 4W$
  4. $ W/2$
Question 11 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Two charges of charge $-4\mu C$ and $+4\mu C$ are placed of the point $A(1, 0, 4)$ and $B(2, -1, 5)$ located in an electric field $E = 0.20\hat {i} V/ C-m$. Then, torque acting on the dipole will be

  1. $2.31\times 10^{-4} N/m$
  2. $7.98\times 10^{-4} C/m$
  3. $7.11\times 10^{-4} C/m$
  4. $7.04\times 10^{-4} C/m$
Question 12 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Dipole is placed parallel to the electric field. If W is the work done in rotating the dipole $60^0$, then work  done in rotating it by $180^0$ is

  1. 2 W
  2. 3 W
  3. 4 W
  4. W/2
Question 13 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

In a certain region of space, electric field is along z-direction throughout. The magnitude of electric field is, however, not constant but increases uniformly along the positive z-direction, at the rate of $10^5 NC^{-1}$ per metre. What is the torque experienced by a system having a total dipole moment equal to $10^{-7}$ C-m in the negative z-direction?

  1. 2 N-m
  2. 3 N-m
  3. 4 N-m
  4. Zero
Question 14 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

For a dipole $q=2\times 10^{-6}C$ , d=0.01 m, find the maximum torque on the dipole if $E=5\times 10^{5}N/C$ :-

  1. $1\times 10^{-3}Nrn^{-1}$
  2. $10\times 10^{-3}Nrn^{-1}$
  3. $1\times 10^{-3}Nrn$
  4. $1\times 10^{-4}Nrn$
Question 15 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The work done in rotating a dipole through ${ 180 }^{ \circ  }$ from electric field direction is :

  1. $pE$
  2. $2pE$
  3. $\cfrac { pE }{ 2 } $
  4. $Zero$
Question 16 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Total electric force on an electric dipole placed in an electric field of a point charge is :

  1. always zero
  2. never zero
  3. zero when midpoint of dipole coincides with the point charge
  4. zero when dipole axis is along any electric line of force.
Question 17 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Work done in turning dipole through an angle 60 is 

  1. $zero$
  2. $pE/4$
  3. $pE$
  4. $pE/2$
Question 18 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electri dipole experience linear displacement and  rotational motion in _____ electric field.

  1. uniform
  2. non-uniform
  3. none
  4. a&b both
Question 19 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole consists of two opposite charges each of magnitude $ 1.0 \mu C $ separated by a distance of 2.0 cm. the diople is placed in an external electric field of $ 1.0 \times  10^5 N/C $ the maximum torque on the dipole is:

  1. $ 0.2 \times 10^{-3} N-m $
  2. $ 1.0 \times 10^{-3} N-m $
  3. $ 2.0 \times 10^{-3} N-m $
  4. $ 4.0 \times 10^{-3} N-m $
Question 20 Multiple Choice (Multiple Answers)

A dipole is placed in an electric field whose direction is fixed but its magnitude varies with distance. It is possible that the dipole experiences :

  1. no net force and no torque
  2. a net force but no torque
  3. a net force and a torque
  4. no net force but a torque
Question 21 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of moment p is kept along an electric field E. The work done in rotating it from an equilibrium position by an angle $\theta$ is :

  1. PE(1 - cos $\theta$)
  2. PE(1 - sin $\theta$)
  3. PE cos $\theta$
  4. PE sin $\theta$
Question 22 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole is kept in the surrounding of another dipole, it experiences

  1. a force and a torque
  2. a force but not a torque
  3. a force but not necessarily a torque
  4. neither a force nor a torque
Question 23 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What will be the magnitude of torque on an electric dipole having dipole moment of  $4 \times 10 ^ { - 9 }  { cm }$  placed in a uniform electric field of intensity of  $5 \times 10 ^ { 4 } { NC } ^ { - 1 }$  making an angle  $180 ^ { \circ }$  with the field.

  1. $10 ^ { - 4 } N - m$
  2. $0$
  3. $2\times 10^{ { -4 } }{ N }-{ m }$
  4. $10 ^ { -6 } N - m$
Question 24 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole, made up of positive and negative charges, each of $1\mu C$ and placed at a distance $2\ cm$ apart. If the dipole is placed in an electric field of $10^{5} N/C$ then the maximum torque which the field can exert on the dipole, if it is turned from a position $\theta = 0^{\circ}$ to $\theta = 180^{\circ}$ is, is

  1. $2\times 10^{-3} N-m$
  2. $3\times 10^{-3} N-m$
  3. $4\times 10^{-3} N-m$
  4. $2.8\times 10^{-3} N-m$
Question 25 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

If a dipole of dipole moment $\displaystyle \vec { p } $ is placed in a uniform electric field $\displaystyle \vec { E } $, then torque acting on it is given by :

  1. $\displaystyle \vec {\tau } =\vec { p } .\vec { E } $
  2. $\displaystyle \vec { \tau } =\vec { p } \times \vec { E } $
  3. $\displaystyle \vec { \tau } =\vec { p } +\vec{ E } $
  4. $\displaystyle \vec { \tau } =\vec { p } -\vec { E } $
Question 26 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

A dipole is placed parallel to the electric field. If W is the work done in rotating the dipole by 60, then work done in rotating it by 180 is

  1. 2 W
  2. 3 W
  3. 4 W
  4. ${\frac{W}{2}}$
Question 27 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole is placed in an electric field generated by a point charge.

  1. The net electric force on the dipole must be zero.
  2. The net eiectric force on the dipole may be zero.
  3. The torque on the dipole due to the field must be zero.
  4. The torque on the dipole due to the field may be zero.
Question 28 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole is placed in non-uniform electric field, then it experiences

  1. only torque
  2. force and torque
  3. only force
  4. neither force nor torque
Question 29 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

State whether True or False :

In a uniform electric field, the dipole experiences no net force; but experiences a torque having a relation with $P$ and $E$ which is given by $\vec{P} \times \vec{E}$ where the parameters $P$ and $E$ have their usual meaning.

  1. True
  2. False
Question 30 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The torque acting on a dipole of momentum $\vec { p } $ in an electric field $\vec { E } $:

  1. $\vec { p } \times \vec { E } $
  2. $\vec { p } .\vec { E } $
  3. zero
  4. $\vec { E } \times \vec { p } $
Question 31 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of moment $\vec { p } $ is placed normal to the lines of force of electric intensity $\vec { E } $, then work done in deflecting it through an angle of ${180}^{o}$ is:

  1. $pE$
  2. $+2pE$
  3. $-2pE$
  4. Zero
Question 32 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of dipole moment $\vec { P } $ is placed parallel to the uniform electric field of intensity $\vec { E }$. On rotating it through ${180}^{o}$, the amount of work done is ________ .

  1. $2PE$
  2. Zero
  3. $PE$
  4. $-2PE$
Question 33 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole kept in a uniform electric field experiences :

  1. Force and a torque
  2. A force, but no torque
  3. A torque but no force
  4. Neither a force nor a torque
Question 34 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

When an electric dipole $\vec p$ is kept in a uniform electric field $\vec E$ then for what of a value of the angle between $\vec p$ and $\vec E$, torque will be maximum:

  1. ${90^o}$
  2. ${0^o}$
  3. ${180^o}$
  4. ${45^o}$
Question 35 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What will be the magnitude of torque on an electric dipole having dipole moment of $4\times { 10 }^{ -9 }cm$ placed in a uniform electric field of intensity of $5\times { 10 }^{ 4 ,,}N { C }^{ -1 }$ making an angle ${180}^{o}$ with the field.

  1. ${ 10 }^{ -4 }N-m$
  2. $2\times { 10 }^{ -4 }N-m$
  3. $0$ (zero)
  4. ${ 10 }^{ -6 }N-m$
Question 36 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole  of dipole moment $\vec {p}$ is placed in uniform electric field $\vec {E}$, with $\vec {p}$ parallel to $\vec {E}$ . It is then rotated by an angle of $\theta$. The work done is

  1. $pE\ \sin \theta$
  2. $pE\ \cos \theta$
  3. $pE\ (1-\cos \theta)$
  4. $pE\ (1-\sin \theta)$
Question 37 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

A dipole of $2 \mu C$ charges each other consists of the positive charge at the point $P(1, -1)$ and the m=negative charge is placed at the point $Q(-1,1)$ . The work done in displacing a charge of $ + 1 \mu C$ from point $A (-3,-3) $ to $B(4,4) $ is :

  1. $1.6 \times 10^{-19} J $
  2. $ 6.98 \times 10^{-3} J $
  3. Zero
  4. $4.8 eV $
Question 38 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Two electric dipoles of moment $\rho $ and $64\rho $ are placed in opposite direction on a line at a distance of $25\ cm$. The electric field will be zero at point between the dipoles whose distance from dipole of moment $\rho $ is 

  1. $5\ cm$
  2. $\dfrac{25}{9}$ cm
  3. 10 cm
  4. $\dfrac{4}{13}$ cm
Question 39 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of moment 'p' is placed in an electric field of intensity 'E'. The dipole acquires a position such that the axis of the dipole makes an angle $\theta $ with the direction of the field. Assuming that the potential energy of the dipole to be zero when=${ 90 }^{ 0 }$, the torque and the potential energy of the dipole will respectively be

  1. $p E \sin { \theta } , pE\cos { \theta } $
  2. $p E \sin { \theta } ,-2p E\cos { \theta } $
  3. $p E \sin { \theta } ,2p E\cos { \theta } $
  4. $p E \cos { \theta } ,-p E\cos { \theta } $
Question 40 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole is placed in an electric field of a point charge then...........

  1. Force is always zero.
  2. Torque is always zero.
  3. Force is may be zero.
  4. Torque may be zero.
Question 41 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

If we rotate the dipole of moment $p$ placed in an electric field $E$ from an $\theta _1$ to $\theta _2$, the work done by the external force is

  1. $pE(\cos \theta _2 - \cos \theta _1)$
  2. $pE(\cos \theta _1 - \cos \theta _2)$
  3. $pE(\sin \theta _2 - \sin \theta _1)$
  4. $pE(\sin \theta _1 - \sin \theta _2)$
Question 42 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

An electric dipole of dipole moment $p$ is placed in a uniform electric field $E$ in stable equilibrium position. Its moment of inertia about the centroidal axis is $I$. If it is displaced slightly from its mean position find the period of small oscillations.

  1. $2\pi \sqrt{\dfrac{I}{2pE}}$
  2. $2\pi \sqrt{\dfrac{2I}{pE}}$
  3. $2\pi \sqrt{\dfrac{I}{pE}}$
  4. $\pi \sqrt{\dfrac{2I}{pE}}$
Question 43 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

In a certain region of space, electric field is along the z-direction throughout. The magnitude of electric field is, however not constant but increases uniformly along the positive z-direction at the rate ${10^5},V/m.$ The force and the torque experienced by a system having a total dipole moment equal to ${10^{ - 7}}C - m$ in the negative z-direction is given by respectively.

  1. 0.01,0
  2. 0.02,0
  3. 0,0.01
  4. None of the above
Question 44 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

 An electric dipole consist of two opposite charges each of magnitude $1\mu C$ separated by a distance of $2,cm.$ The dipole is placed in an external field of ${10^5}{\text{N/C}}$.The maximum torque on the dipole is:

  1. $2 \times {10^{ - 4}}J$
  2. $2 \times {10^{ - 3}}J$
  3. $4 \times {10^{ - 3}}J$
  4. ${10^{ - 3}}N\,m$