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Question #42955
The Question
A short magnetic dipole of magnetic moment (where is in ) is placed at the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system. In the same region, an electrostatic field is established in free space such that its electric potential is given by , where is a constant in and are in meters.
Consider a point in space, with a position vector making an angle () with the positive -axis. It is observed that at point , the magnetic field vector is strictly normal to the electrostatic equipotential surface passing through .
What is the value of ?
Options
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Multi-Concept_Bridge
Master problems that require linking physics and math concepts to solve complex competitive questions.
Concepts Behind This Question
Magnetic Field on Axial vs Equatorial Line|Equipotential Surface Geometry|Dot Product Geometry
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
This question tests the student's ability to couple electrostatic potential gradients with magnetic dipole fields in 3D space.
The primary trap lies in confusing the geometry of the equipotential surface with the field lines.
Students often incorrectly assume that the magnetic field should be tangent to the equipotential surface (yielding ) or miscalculate the gradient of the quadrupole potential by missing the factor of 2 in the -derivative (yielding ).
It requires seamlessly switching between scalar potential gradients and vector field components without mixing coordinate systems.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Physics |
| Chapter | Magnetism and Matter - Class 12 |
| Concept | Magnetic Field on Axial vs Equatorial Line |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 7 |
| Target Solve Time | 160 sec |
| Access | Free |