Work Done in Rotating of an Electric Dipole In a Uniform Electric Field
On placing an electric dipole in an uniform electric field, a torque is produced on the dipole which tries to align it in the direction of the electric field. Ultimately the dipole gets aligned with the field and attains equilibrium. Thus it is obvious that work will be done in rotating the dipole in uniform electric field.
The torque acting on an electric dipole when it is placed in a uniform electric field (\vec E) making an angle θ with the field,
τ = pEsinθ ………(1)
Where p(= q × 2l) is electric dipole moment and E, the intensity of electric field.
Therefore work, done in giving an angular displacement dθ,
dW = τdθ
If the dipole is rotated from θ1 orientation to θ2,
- If the dipole is rotated from position of equilibrium
