Oscillation of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field.
We illustrate the oscillation of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field, starting very near the unstable equilibrium point.
We see that the torque exerted by the electric forces on the positive and negative charges causes the dipole to rotate, accelerating through the stable equilibrium point (in which the dipole moment is aligned with the electric field).
The dipole passes through the stable equilibrium and now the torque reversed direction, causing the dipole to slow as it approaches the unstable equilibrium point once again.
The dipole oscillates continuously as energy is transformed between electric potential energy and rotational kinetic energy!
