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Consider a molecule with a dipole moment that is oriented between the two charged plates of a capacitor so that the dipole is at a 45 degree angle to the plates. The molecule will experience: no net force but a net torque.
Now, I thought it would've experienced no net force (since the charge is 0) AND no net torque, since the delta + and delta - sides of the moleces would be rotated in opposite directions and would cancel each other? TPR says "if we treat the molecule as containing two equal but oppositely charged ends (+q and -q), then each of these will experience an electric force in opposite directions and, as a result, the electric field exerts a torque on the molecule. The diagram also shows the ends of the molecule both moving in the counterclockwise direction, but says that they would experience a force in opposite directions? And then it says Tnet=T- + T= not equal to 0. How can this be??? Shouldn't the diagram show them moving in opposite directions since the force on them is opposite?
Edit: wait, are they moving in the same direction because they are oppositely charged? And so they move in the same direction (counterclockwise) creating a net torque??? Is that the correct reasoning?
Now, I thought it would've experienced no net force (since the charge is 0) AND no net torque, since the delta + and delta - sides of the moleces would be rotated in opposite directions and would cancel each other? TPR says "if we treat the molecule as containing two equal but oppositely charged ends (+q and -q), then each of these will experience an electric force in opposite directions and, as a result, the electric field exerts a torque on the molecule. The diagram also shows the ends of the molecule both moving in the counterclockwise direction, but says that they would experience a force in opposite directions? And then it says Tnet=T- + T= not equal to 0. How can this be??? Shouldn't the diagram show them moving in opposite directions since the force on them is opposite?
Edit: wait, are they moving in the same direction because they are oppositely charged? And so they move in the same direction (counterclockwise) creating a net torque??? Is that the correct reasoning?
