---
title: "An electric dipole with dipole moment of magnitude \\(p\\) is placed in a uniform electric field of magnitude \\(E\\). The dipole is initially in its stable equilibrium position, aligned parallel to the electric field. An external agent slowly rotates the dipole until it reaches its unstable equilibrium position, oriented antiparallel to the electric field. How much work is done by the external agent on the dipole during this rotation?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118083/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T08:05:02+00:00"
---

# An electric dipole with dipole moment of magnitude \(p\) is placed in a uniform electric field of magnitude \(E\). The dipole is initially in its stable equilibrium position, aligned parallel to the electric field. An external agent slowly rotates the dipole until it reaches its unstable equilibrium position, oriented antiparallel to the electric field. How much work is done by the external agent on the dipole during this rotation?

An electric dipole with dipole moment of magnitude \(p\) is placed in a uniform electric field of magnitude \(E\). The dipole is initially in its stable equilibrium position, aligned parallel to the electric field. An external agent slowly rotates the dipole until it reaches its unstable equilibrium position, oriented antiparallel to the electric field. How much work is done by the external agent on the dipole during this rotation?

![A horizontal diagram showing two configurations of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field. Three parallel horizontal dashed lines with rightward arrowheads represent a uniform electric field labeled E. On the left side, labeled Initial State, a dipole is depicted as a short rod with a positive charge labeled +q on its right end and a negative charge labeled -q on its left end, with a vector arrow labeled p pointing to the right parallel to E. On the right side, labeled Final State, the dipole is depicted with its ends reversed so +q is on the left and -q is on the right, with vector arrow p pointing to the left antiparallel to E. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785830702-gQgMIR.jpg)

- **A.** \(-2pE\)
- **B.** \(0\)
- **C.** \(pE\)
- **D.** \(2pE\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118083/*