DIELECTRIC MATERIALS AND CAPACITANCE Ok

TOPIC 12: DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
Introduction:
Dielectric materials are electrically non- conducting materials such as glass,
ebonite, mica, rubber wood and paper. All the dielectric materials are insulating
materials. The difference between a dielectric and an insulator lies in their application.
If the main function of non-conducting materials is to provide electrical
insulation, then they are called as insulators. On the other hand, if the main function
of non-conducting materials is to store electrical charges, then they are called as
dielectrics. Therefore, the study of dielectrics is nothing but the study of insulators.
General properties of Dielectric Materials:
 Generally, the dielectric are non-metals of high resistivity.

 They have a very large energy gap (more than 3eV). (fig 3.1)
All the electrons in the dielectrics are tightly bound to their parent nucleus.
 As there are no free electrons to carry the current, the electrical conductivity of
dielectrics is very low
Basic Definitions
Electric dipole:
A system consisting of two equal and opposite charges (+q, -q) separated by a
distance (d) is called the electric dipole (fig. 3.2)
Dipole moment (µ)

The product of the magnitude of the charge (q) and the distance between two
charges (d) is called as dipole moment.
i.e., Dipole moment 𝜇 = 𝑞𝑑. Its unit is coulomb-metre.

Permittivity
The permittivity represents the dielectric property of a medium. Its unit is F/m.
Permittivity of vacuum or free space,
𝜺𝟎 = 8.854 x 10−12 𝐹/𝑚

Dielectric Constant (𝜺𝒓 )
A dielectric characteristic of a material is determined by its dielectric constant. It
is a measure of polarization in the dielectrics.
Definition
It is the ratio of absolute permittivity of the medium (ε) and permitivitty of free
space (𝜺𝟎 ). It can also defined as the ratio of the capacitance with dielectric (C d) and
with air (CA) between the plates.
𝜺 𝐶𝑑
𝜺𝒓 = =
𝜺𝟎 𝐶𝐴
Since dielectric constant is the ratio of same quantity, it is a dimensionless
quantity and it has no unit. The value of 𝜺𝒓 =1 for air or vacuum. Dielectric constant is
also called as relative permittivity.
TOPIC 13: CAPACITANCE

The property of a conductor or system of conductor that describes its ability to store
electric charge.
𝒒 Aε
𝑪= =
𝑽 d
Where:
C is capacitance of capacitor
q is charge on the capacitor plate
V is potential difference between plates
A is area of capacitor plate
ε is permittivity of medium
d is distance between capacitor plates
Polarization:
Dielectric materials become polarized in an electric field, with the result that the
electric flux density D is greater than it would be under free-space conditions with the
same field intensity. A simplified but satisfactory theory of polarization can be obtained
by treating an atom of the dielectric as two superimposed positive and negative charge
regions. Upon the application of an E field the positive charge region moves in the
direction of the applied field and the negative charge region moves in the opposite
direction.
Polarization P can account for the increase in the electric flux density, the equation
being
𝑫 = 𝜀0 𝑬 + 𝑷
This equation permits E and P to have different directions, as they do in certain
crystalline dielectrics.
In an isotropic, linear material E and P are parallel at each point, which is expressed by
𝑷 = 𝑥𝑒 𝜀0 𝑬 (isotropic material)
where the electric susceptibility 𝑥𝑒 is a dimensionless constant. Then,
𝑫 = 𝜀0 (1 + 𝑥𝑒 )𝑬 = 𝜀0 𝜺𝒓 𝑬 (isotropic material)
Polarisability
The polarization P is directly proportional to the electric field strength E
Where  proportionality is constant called as polarisability. The polarisability is defined

as polarization per unit applied electric field. If the material contains N number of
dipoles per unit volume, then
P  NE
EXAMPLE 1. A parallel-plate capacitor with area 0.30 m2 and separation 5.5 mm

contains three dielectrics with interfaces normal to E and D, as follows: 𝜖𝑟1 = 3.0, 𝑑1 =
1.00 𝑚𝑚; 𝜖𝑟2 = 4.0, 𝑑2 = 2.00 𝑚𝑚; 𝜖𝑟3 = 6.0, 𝑑3 = 2.5 𝑚𝑚. Find the capacitance.
Solution:
EXAMPLE 2. Find the magnitudes of D and P for a dielectric material in which E = 0.15
MV/m and xe = 4.25.
Solution:
EXAMPLE 3. The electric field intensity in polystyrene (εr = 2.55) filling the space
between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is 10 kV/m. The distance between the
plates is 1.5 mm. Calculate:
(a) D
(b) P
(c) The surface charge density of free charge on the plates
(d) The surface density of polarization charge
(e) The potential difference between the plate
Solution:
EXAMPLE 4. A dielectric sphere (εr = 5.7) of radius 10 cm has a point charge 2 pC
placed at its center. Calculate:
(a) The surface density of polarization charge on the surface of the sphere
(b) The force exerted by the charge on a -4-pC point charge placed on the sphere
Solution:

DIELECTRIC MATERIALS AND CAPACITANCE Ok

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DIELECTRIC MATERIALS AND CAPACITANCE Ok

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

DIELECTRIC MATERIALS AND CAPACITANCE Ok

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TOPIC 12: DIELECTRIC MATERIALS

General properties of Dielectric Materials:

 Generally, the dielectric are non-metals of high resistivity.

Dipole moment (µ)

i.e., Dipole moment 𝜇 = 𝑞𝑑. Its unit is coulomb-metre.

Permittivity of vacuum or free space,

𝜺𝟎 = 8.854 x 10−12 𝐹/𝑚

TOPIC 13: CAPACITANCE

where the electric susceptibility 𝑥𝑒 is a dimensionless constant. Then,

The polarization P is directly proportional to the electric field strength E

Where  proportionality is constant called as polarisability. The polarisability is defined

EXAMPLE 1. A parallel-plate capacitor with area 0.30 m2 and separation 5.5 mm

You might also like