Question

What distinguishes the behavior of a dipole in a non-uniform electric field from its behavior in a uniform field?

Options

• Both rotation and translation occur

• Only translation occurs, no rotation

• Only rotation occurs, no translation

• Neither rotation nor translation occurs

Answer 1

In a non-uniform field, the magnitudes of forces on the positive and negative charges are unequal because the field strength varies from one charge to the other. Consequently, the net force is no longer zero, resulting in both translational motion and rotational motion of the dipole.