1.

A water molecule has an electric dipole moment of 6.3 x 10 Cm. A sample contains 10 water molecules, with all the dipole moments aligned parallel to the external electric field of magnitude 3 x 105 NC-1 . How much work is required to rotate all the water molecules from θ = 0° to 90°?

Answer»

When the water molecules are aligned in the direction of the electric field, it has minimum potential energy. The work done to rotate the dipole from θ = 0° to 90° is equal to the potential energy difference between these two configurations.

W = ΔU = U(90°) – U(0°)

As we know, U = -pE cos θ, Next we calculate the work done to rotate one water molecule from θ = 0° to 90°,

For one water molecule, W = – pE cos 90° + pE cos 0° = pE

W = 6.3 x10-30 x 3 x 105 = 18.9 x 10-25

For 1022 water molecules, the total work done is 

Wtot = 18.9x 1025 x 1022 = 18.9 x 103 J



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