Torque and Potential Energy …
Instructions
This simulation shows the behavior of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field. Drag the slider to change the angle of the dipole. Click the play button in the bottom left corner to watch how the dipole will oscillate when released.
- In which cases will the dipole rotate clockwise when released?
- Can you predict where the dipole will momentarily stop by looking at the potential energy graph?
- How are the torque and potential energy graphs related to one another?