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Potential Energy of a Dipole in an External Field
Concepts tested here
- Work done in rotating a dipole
All Questions
2006 AIPMT-PRE 1 question
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An electric dipole of moment $\vec{p}$ is lying along a uniform electric field $\vec{E}$. The work done in rotating the dipole by $90^\circ$ is :-Work done in rotating a dipole from angle $\theta_1$ to $\theta_2$ with the field: $W = pE(\cos\theta_1 - \cos\theta_2)$
Initially the dipole lies along the field, so $\theta_1 = 0^\circ$; finally $\theta_2 = 90^\circ$.
$W = pE(\cos 0^\circ - \cos 90^\circ)$
$W = pE(1 - 0)$
$W = pE$
Equivalently, the potential energy changes from $-pE$ to 0, an increase of $pE$.