Question

When a dipole is aligned with the external electric field (θ = 0°), the potential energy is:

Options

• -pE (minimum)

• +pE (maximum)

• pE/2

• 0

Answer 1

When the dipole is aligned with the field (θ = 0°), we have \[\cos(0°) = 1\], so \[U = -pE \times 1 = -pE\]. This is the minimum potential energy, representing the most stable equilibrium configuration where the dipole naturally tends to align with the external field.