4. Two small identical electrical dipoles AB and CD, each of dipole moment ‘p’ are kept at an angle of 120° as shown in the figure.

Question

Two small identical electrical dipoles AB and CD, each of dipole moment ‘p’ are kept at an angle of 120° as shown in the figure. What is the resultant dipole moment of this combination? If this system is subjected to electric field \((\vec E)\) directed along + X direction, what will be the magnitude and direction of the torque acting on this?

Answer 1

Resultant dipole moment

Using law of addition of vectors, we can see that the resultant dipole makes an angle of 60° with the y axis or 30° with x - axis.

Direction of torque is along positive Z-direction.