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An electric dipole is kept making an angle of 30° with a non-uniform electric field. What effect will it experience?

1. Only a translational force along the field direction
2. Only a translational force perpendicular to the field direction
3. Both a torque and a translational force
4. Only a torque

Correct answer: Both a torque and a translational force

Solution

In a non-uniform field the two charges of the dipole feel unequal forces, giving a net translational force; since the dipole is at 30 deg to the field it also feels a torque p x E. So it experiences both a torque and a translational force.

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