An electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field. What is the net electric force on the dipole?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → zero ##
When an electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field, the net electric force is always zero.
Why is the net force zero?
An electric dipole consists of two equal and opposite charges, $+q$ and $-q$, separated by a small distance. In a uniform electric field ($E$):
- Force on the positive charge ($+q$): The field exerts a force $F_{1} = qE$ in the direction of the field.
- Force on the negative charge ($-q$): The field exerts a force $F_{2} = -qE$ in the opposite direction.
The net force ($F_{net}$) is the vector sum of these two individual forces:
$F_{net} = qE + (-qE) = 0$