Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 25 - Electric Charges and Forces - Exercises and Problems - Page 747: 56

Answer

$\tau = p~E$

Work Step by Step

We can find the torque about the center due to the electric field $E$ acting on the $+q$ charge: $\tau = (q)~(E)~(\frac{s}{2})$ $\tau = \frac{q~s~E}{2}$ By the right hand rule, this torque is into the page. We can find the torque about the center due to the electric field $E$ acting on the $-q$ charge: $\tau = (q)~(E)~(\frac{s}{2})$ $\tau = \frac{q~s~E}{2}$ By the right hand rule, this torque is into the page. We can find the magnitude of the net torque: $\tau = \frac{q~s~E}{2}+\frac{q~s~E}{2}$ $\tau = qs ~E$ $\tau = p~E$
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