Question

If an electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field ______ will act on the dipole.

(a) A force but no torque

(b) Both force and torque

(c) Torque but no force

(d) No torque or force

I have been asked this question in an online quiz.

My question is from Dipole in a Uniform External Field topic in chapter Charges and Fields of Physics – Class 12

Answer 1

Correct option is (c) Torque but no force

To elaborate: Dipole is the combination of two equal but opposite charges, kept at a certain distance. If it is placed in a uniform electric field, both the charges will suffer the same but opposite forces on them. As a result, the net force on the dipole becomes zero, but due to equal and opposite forces acting on two different points, there is a net torque acting on the dipole.