An electric dipole of mass m, charge q, and length l is placed in a uniform electric field E = E0 i. When the dipole is rotated slightly from its equilibrium position and released, the time period of its oscillations will be :
- 12 ml2qE0
- 2 ml2qE0
- 2 mlqE0
- 12 2mlqE0
Answer
(2) 2 ml2qE0
Solution
The dipole consists of two charged particles +q and -q, each of mass m, at a distance l2 from the centre, so its moment of inertia about the centre is I = 2m ( l2 )2 = ml22 and its dipole moment is p = ql.
For a small angular displacement , = -pE0 -qlE0 , so
I d2 dt2 = -qlE0 , which is angular SHM with
2 = qlE0I = qlE0ml2/2 = 2qE0ml
T = 2 = 2 ml2qE0
Answer: (2)