Question

What does an electric dipole experience when it is kept in a non-uniform electric field?

• A. Only a force
• B. Only torque
• C. Force and torque both
• D. Neither force nor torque

Hint:

Electric dipoles in non-uniform fields experience both net force and torque. In uniform fields, only torque acts.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

In a uniform electric field, a dipole experiences a torque but no net translational force, because the forces on the positive and negative charges cancel out.
In a non-uniform electric field, the magnitudes of forces on each charge differ due to the field's variation.
Thus, the dipole experiences: - Torque: due to opposite forces trying to align it with the field, - Net Force: due to unequal forces on \( +q \) and \( -q \) ends of the dipole.
Hence, both force and torque act on the dipole.