An electric field of dipole P is placed in a uniform external field. The dipole moment vector P is in the positive y direction. The external electric field vector E is pointing in the positive x direction. When the dipole is aligned as shown the torque = |P x E| is in which direction?
Prove your answer by directly computing the torque using the determinant method {intro physics cross product}. What is the magnitude? What does this tell you about the behavior of the dipole subject to an external field?