Question

Assertion (A): An electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field. Its equilibrium will be stable when dipole is set along the direction of electric field. Reason (R) In stable equilibrium energy of dipole should be least possible.​

Answer 1

Answer:

(1)When the dipole is aligned parallel to the electric field (i.e. the angle between dipole moment and the electric field is 0 o ), then the dipole is in stable equilibrium.(2)When the dipole is aligned anti-parallel to the electric field (i.e. the angle between dipole moment and the electric field is 180

Answer 2

Both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of assertion.

• Equilibrium will be stable when the dipole is set along the direction of the electric field because the net force and torque on the system are zero when the dipole moment and electric field are parallel to each other, that orientation of the dipole corresponds to its stable equilibrium, and slight changes in that orientation result in the action of a torque that returns it to its equilibrium orientation.
• The equilibrium point with the lowest potential energy is referred to as stable equilibrium. As a result, in a stable equilibrium, the potential energy of the dipole should be minimal.