Why does electric dipole have negative potential energy?

29.11 POTENTIAL ENERGY OF A DIPOLE PLACED IN A UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD When an electric dipole is placed in an electric field E, a torque [=px É acts on it (figure 29.14). The work is negative as the rotation de is opposite to the torque.

What is the electric potential energy of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field?

Let us consider an electric dipole of the dipole moment →P in a uniform electric field →E with →P making an angle θ with →E. , since the dipole axis is perpendicular to the field so potential energy is equivalent to zero.

When the electric potential energy of an electric dipole placed in a uniform electric field will be maximum and minimum?

When the angle between the dipole moment and electric field is 180° then the potential energy of electric dipole is maximum. (II). When the angle between the dipole moment and electric field is zero then the potential energy of electric dipole is minimum.

When dipole placed in electric field potential energy of dipole is?

zero
From the above equation, we can see that the potential energy of dipole placed in an external field is zero when the angle Ɵ is equal to 90° or when the dipole makes an angle of 90°.

What is electric potential dipole energy?

Electric potential energy of an Electric dipole in dipole from zero energy position to the desired position (The zero enrgy position to be one when the dipole When an electric dipole of dipole moment p is on it such that P= P​× E​ W is the work done in turning the dipole from 0otoθ then, W=∫0W​dW.

When dipole placed in electric potential energy of dipole is?

Electric potential energy of an Electric dipole in dipole from zero energy position to the desired position (The zero enrgy position to be one when the dipole When an electric dipole of dipole moment p is on it such that P= P​× E​ This torque tends to rotate the dipole let dW the small amount of work done.

What is the potential energy of the electric dipole?

P.E=−pEcosθ=−p⋅E. This is negative when θ is acute and positive when θ is obtuse.

What kind of symmetry does potential due to dipole on dipole axis possess?

Now, imagine a cylinder of radius r drawn with electric dipole as axis. The electric field, due to dipole, at all points on the surface of the cylinder will be the same. So, the electric field due to dipole has cylindrical symmetry.

When dipole placed in electric field which position dipole has maximum potential energy?

The potential energy is maximum when the dipole is aligned anti-parallel (θ = π) to the external electric field and minimum when the dipole is aligned parallel (θ = 0) to the external electric field.

When the potential energy of an electric dipole in electric field is minimum?

The minimum potential energy of the dipole does not mean the potential energy to be zero. The potential energy of the dipole is minimum when the dipole is parallel to the external electric field. Also, it is the maximum when the dipole is anti-parallel to the external electric field.

Under what conditions is the potential energy of a dipole in electric field lowest?

The potential energy is lowest when the dipole is aligned with E and highest if it is anti-aligned. If the field is not uniform, then the magnitude of the electric force acting on the positive charge can be different from that acting on the negative charge, and there can be a net force acting on the dipole.

Can potential energy negative?

Potential energy may also be negative because of where you set your zero point, the point where your potential energy is zero. If the floor is the zero of potential energy, then a book on the table has a positive amount of potential energy.

What happens when a dipole is placed in an electric field?

. When such a dipole is placed in a uniform electric field, the electric field exerts force on the dipole which then rotates the dipole in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Here we discuss the electric field and potential energy of an electric dipole.

How do you find the Y-component of an electric dipole?

E = k q r2 E = k q r 2. The y-component of electric field due to the electric dipole is a zero vector, that is the y-component of one charge is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the y-component of another charge. The y-component of →E 1 E → 1 due to positive charge is Esinθ^j E sin. ⁡.

How do you find the electric dipole moment in vector form?

The electric dipole moment →p p → has a direction from negative charge to positive charge in an electric dipole. Now in terms of the electric dipole moment, the above expression can be written as This is the expression for the cross product of vectors, so in vector form it is →τ = →p × →E τ → = p → × E →.

What is the most negative value of potential energy?

In anticlockwise direction θ θ increases and the potential energy goes on decreasing until becomes minimum in stable equilibrium position at θ = π θ = π. At θ = π θ = π, the potential energy is U = −pE U = − p E which is the most negative value.