Question

What is the formula for torque acting on a dipole making an angle θ with a uniform electric field?

Options

• \[\tau = pE \sin \theta\]

• \[\tau = pE \tan \theta\]

• \[\tau = pE \cos \theta\]

• \[\tau = pE\]

Answer 1

The magnitude of torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field is determined by the perpendicular component of the electric force multiplied by the distance between charges. This results in the formula \[\tau = pE \sin \theta\], where the sine term accounts for the component of the field perpendicular to the dipole.