Practice question
Question
Why does an electric dipole experience a torque but no net force when placed in a uniform electric
field?
Explanation
**Vector addition of forces** underlies multi-charge analysis. Each pair contributes independent Coulomb force, resultant obtained by resolving components along axes. Equilibrium occurs when vector sum vanishes, often at symmetric points where contributions balance. In a uniform field, the forces on the positive and negative charges of the dipole are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, resulting in no net force. However, these forces act at different points, creating a torque that tends to align the dipole with the field. Substituting values gives Equal and opposite forces, which matches expected magnitude for this electrostatic configuration, confirming Coulomb's and Gauss's principles and charge quantization consistency.
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