Question

If a non-polar substance is placed in an electric field, what will happen?

(a) A net dipole moment will be observed

(b) The substance will oscillate

(c) The substance will orient itself perpendicular to the electric field

(d) It will conduct electricity

I got this question by my college professor while I was bunking the class.

The query is from Dipole in a Uniform External Field in division Charges and Fields of Physics – Class 12

Answer 1

Right choice is (a) A net dipole moment will be observed

The best I can explain: A non-polar substance consists of a huge number of dipoles in it, but they are oriented randomly and hence the net dipole moment of the substance becomes 0 and it acts as a non-polar substance. But if it is placed in an electric field, the dipoles present in it will orient themselves in the direction of the field and hence a net dipole moment will be observed, known as induced dipole moment. No current flow or oscillation of the substance will be observed.