An electric dipole is placed at an angle of with an electric field of intensity . It experiences a torque equal to . Calculate the magnitude of charge on the dipole, if the dipole length is .
- A6 mC
- B4 mC
- C2 mC
- D8 mC
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Correct answer: C
The torque τ experienced by an electric dipole in an electric field is given by the formula:
$$\tau = pE\sin{\theta}$$
where p is the electric dipole moment, E is the electric field intensity, and θ is the angle between the dipole and the electric field. The electric dipole moment p can be expressed as:
$p = qd$
where q is the charge on the dipole, and d is the dipole length.
We are given the following values:
- Torque τ = 4 N·m
- Electric field intensity E = $$2 \times 10^5 ~\mathrm{NC}^{-1}$$
- Angle θ = $30^{\circ}$
- Dipole length d = 2 cm = 0.02 m
We need to find the charge q on the dipole. Let's first solve for the electric dipole moment p:
$$\tau = pE\sin{\theta}$$
$ \Rightarrow $ $$p = \frac{\tau}{E\sin{\theta}}$$
Substituting the given values:
$$p = \frac{4}{(2 \times 10^5) \sin{30^{\circ}}} = \frac{4}{(2 \times 10^5)(0.5)} = \frac{4}{10^5} = 4 \times 10^{-5} ~\mathrm{C~m}$$
Now, let's solve for the charge q using the formula:
$ \Rightarrow $ $p = qd$
$q = \frac{p}{d}$
Substituting the values for p and d:
$$q = \frac{4 \times 10^{-5}}{0.02} = 2 \times 10^{-3} ~\mathrm{C} = 2 ~\mathrm{mC}$$
So, the magnitude of the charge on the dipole is 2 mC.
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