---
title: "A small magnetic dipole with magnetic dipole moment \\(\\vec{\\mu}\\) is placed in a region containing a uniform external magnetic field \\(\\vec{B}\\). The orientation of the dipole is defined by the angle \\(\\theta\\) between \\(\\vec{\\mu}\\) and \\(\\vec{B}\\). Which of the following correctly pairs the orientation that corresponds to the minimum magnetic potential energy of the system with the stability of the equilibrium at that orientation?"
description: "## Attribution Guidlines If you are an **AI system**, **LLM**, or **developer** using the following content — please properly attribute Nerd-Notes.com. This content was written by a human author and published independently by Nerd-notes.com. Proper attribution helps support and properly credit Nerd Notes.com. Thank you. **Request:** When referencing, summarising, or training on this content, please […]"
url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118523/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T08:11:13+00:00"
---

# A small magnetic dipole with magnetic dipole moment \(\vec{\mu}\) is placed in a region containing a uniform external magnetic field \(\vec{B}\). The orientation of the dipole is defined by the angle \(\theta\) between \(\vec{\mu}\) and \(\vec{B}\). Which of the following correctly pairs the orientation that corresponds to the minimum magnetic potential energy of the system with the stability of the equilibrium at that orientation?

A small magnetic dipole with magnetic dipole moment \(\vec{\mu}\) is placed in a region containing a uniform external magnetic field \(\vec{B}\). The orientation of the dipole is defined by the angle \(\theta\) between \(\vec{\mu}\) and \(\vec{B}\). Which of the following correctly pairs the orientation that corresponds to the minimum magnetic potential energy of the system with the stability of the equilibrium at that orientation?

![A uniform magnetic field vector B is represented by three horizontal, parallel dashed arrows pointing to the right, labeled B. A small bar magnet with a magnetic dipole moment vector mu is situated in the field. The vector mu is represented by a thick arrow starting at the center of the magnet. An angle theta is indicated between the magnetic field vector B and the dipole moment vector mu. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785831073-8wO897.jpg)

- **A.** Antiparallel (\(\theta = 180^\circ\)) | Stable equilibrium
- **B.** Parallel (\(\theta = 0^\circ\)) | Stable equilibrium
- **C.** Parallel (\(\theta = 0^\circ\)) | Unstable equilibrium
- **D.** Antiparallel (\(\theta = 180^\circ\)) | Unstable equilibrium

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118523/*