Concept:
The electric dipole moment \( p \) is given by the product of the magnitude of one of the charges and the separation distance between them: \( p = q \cdot d \).
When placed in a uniform external electric field \( E \), the restorative torque \( \tau \) acting on the dipole at an angle \( \theta \) is:
\[
\tau = p E \sin\theta
\]
Step 1: Calculating the electric dipole moment \( p \).
Given parameters:
• Charge magnitude, \( q = 1\,\mu\text{C} = 10^{-6}~\text{C} \)
• Distance separation, \( d = 5~\text{cm} = 0.05~\text{m} = 5\times10^{-2}~\text{m} \)
\[
p = q \cdot d = (10^{-6}) \times (5\times10^{-2}) = 5\times10^{-8}~\text{C}\cdot\text{m}
\]
Step 2: Evaluating torque for the perpendicular condition.
The dipole is oriented perpendicular to the electric field lines, so \( \theta = 90^\circ \implies \sin(90^\circ) = 1 \).
Given electric field intensity: \( E = 3\times10^5~\text{NC}^{-1} \).
\[
\tau = (5\times10^{-8}) \times (3\times10^5) \times 1 = 15\times10^{-3}~\text{N}\cdot\text{m}
\]