An electric dipole will have minimum potential energy when it subtends an angle $\left[\begin{array}{l} \cos…

An electric dipole will have minimum potential energy when it subtends an angle $\left[\begin{array}{l} \cos 0^{\circ}=1 \\ \sin 0^{\circ}=0 \end{array}\right]\left[\begin{array}{l} \cos 90^{\circ}=0 \\ \cos \pi=-1 \end{array}\right]$
  1. $\pi$ with direction of field.
  2. $\frac{\pi}{2}$ with direction of field.
  3. $\frac{3 \pi}{2}$ with direction of field.
  4. zero with direction of field.

Solution

Potential energy of a dipole in an electric field is $-\vec{p} \cdot \vec{E}$ Potential energy is thus minimum when p and E in same direction.

Asked in: MHT CET 2024 (11 May Shift 2)

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