An electric dipole is placed at an angle of 30° to a non-uniform electric field. The dipole will experience (a) a translation force only in the direction of the field (b) a translation force only in a direction normal to the direction of the field (c) a torque as well as a translational force (d) a torque only

Answer: (c). In a non-uniform field E differs at +q and -q, so the forces do not cancel: a net translational force. At 30°, p × E ≠ 0, so there is also a torque. So the answer is (c) a torque as well as a translational force.

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Electric Dipole

An electric dipole is placed at an angle of $30^\circ$ to a non-uniform electric field. The dipole will experience

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Answer: (c)

In a non-uniform field $\vec{E}$ differs at $+q$ and $-q$ , so the forces do not cancel: a net translational force.
At $30^\circ$ , $\vec{p} \times \vec{E} \neq 0$ , so there is also a torque.
So the answer is (c) a torque as well as a translational force.

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