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What is dielectric constant?

Updated: 8/11/2023
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13y ago

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A dielectric is an insulating material that does not conduct electricity and is transparent to an electromagnetic field. Dielectric materials are used to separate conducting surfaces such as the plates inside a capacitor, wires inside Transformers, electric cable conductors, and elsewhere in the electric industry where electrical separation of charged elements is necessary. The dielectric constant is a ratio of the capacitance of a capacitor in which a particular insulating material is the dielectric, to the capacitance of the capacitor in which a vacuum is the dielectric.

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15y ago
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12y ago

The dielectric constant is the ratio of the permittivity of a substance to the permittivity of free space. Water does indeed have a very high dielectric constant of 80.10 at 20 °C, this is because the water molecule has a dipole moment and so water can be polarized. Under a given electric field, water tends to polarize strongly, nearly cancelling out the effect of the field. However, water also conducts electricity because it always contains ions (OH- and H+ are always there, and also things like Cl- and Na+ are usually present) which are highly mobile. The large dielectric constant means that substances whose molecules contain ionic bonds will tend to dissociate in water yielding solutions containing ions. This occurs because water as a solvent opposes the electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions that would prevent ionic substances from dissolving and thereby water becomes a very good solvent.

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13y ago

Dielectric constant or relative permittivity of a medium is defined as the ratio of force between two charges separated by a certain distance in air (or vacuum) to the force between the same charges separated by the same distance in the medium.

It is denoted by K.

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12y ago

The contribution of the positive ions in the lattice to the dielectric constant (e.g. Cadmium Selenide).

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14y ago

From : http://members.gcronline.com/cbrauda/0007.htm value of polystyrene dielectric constant is 2.6 other sources indicate it has a minimum value of 2.4 to a maximum of 3.0

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88, 80.1, 55.3, 34.5

(0, 20, 100, 200 °C)

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The Dielectric Constant of a medium does not have a unit because it is a ratio.

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Q: What is dielectric constant?
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Is dielectric strength the same as dielectric constant?

No, these are two unrelated properties of a material.


Can the dielectric constant of carbon in water be measured?

dielectric constant is a property of a material, this question is asking the property of a two mixed together, in an undeclared ratio. But yes dielectric constants can be measured. The problem you will have is keeping a uniform mix.


How capacitor is used to check freshness of fish?

Between the two plates of a capacitor lies a medium with a specific dielectric constant. Placing a fish between these plates changes to dielectric constant. If the fish is fresh it will be strong and tight, thus possessing a higher dielectric constant. If the fish is older, it's dielectric constant, or body, will be weaker due to decay.


What is the effect of temperature on dielectric constant of a dielectric?

Usually, dielectric materials have permanent dipoles. As temperature increases, the molecules in the dielectric have more thermal energy and therefore, the amplitude of random motion is greater. This means that the molecules are less closely aligned with each other (even in the presence of an electric field). Hence, the dielectric constant reduces.


What is Relative dielectric constant for vacuum?

YES IT IS. Any quantity which is ratio of two physical quantities having same unit is dimensionless. Dielectric constant is ratio of Permittivty of medium to the permittivity of free space. As Permittivity of medium and permittivity of free space both have same units(F/m ie Farad/meter) dielectric constant becomes dimensionless quantity

Related questions

What is dielectric constant in chemical terms?

dielectric constant


What is the sodium hypochlorite dielectric constant?

dielectric constant for sodium Hypochlorite


Dielectric constant of metal is?

The dielectric constant varies, depending on the material.


What is relative permittivity if dielectric constant of water is 80.10?

'Dielectric constant' is an archaic term for relative permittivity. They are one and the same.


Why does dielectric constant decrease with an increase in temperature?

If the temperature increases, the conductivity will increase too which means the dielectric constant is reduced


Is dielectric strength the same as dielectric constant?

No, these are two unrelated properties of a material.


What is the dielectric constant of Silver?

infinite


What is the Electric field inside a Dielectric?

E = Eo/k k is dielectric constant


What is dielectric constant of a metal?

It can be taken as infinity


What is the dielectric constant of cadmium selenide?

10.6


Can the dielectric constant of carbon in water be measured?

dielectric constant is a property of a material, this question is asking the property of a two mixed together, in an undeclared ratio. But yes dielectric constants can be measured. The problem you will have is keeping a uniform mix.


How capacitor is used to check freshness of fish?

Between the two plates of a capacitor lies a medium with a specific dielectric constant. Placing a fish between these plates changes to dielectric constant. If the fish is fresh it will be strong and tight, thus possessing a higher dielectric constant. If the fish is older, it's dielectric constant, or body, will be weaker due to decay.