Definition dielectric field. Both refer to the phasor in the complex plane whose real and imaginary parts are the resistive (lossy) component of an electromagnetic field and its The dielectric constant, or relative permittivity, measures a material's ability to store energy in an electric field. It characterizes the tendency of the atomic charge in an insulating material to distort in the presence of an electric field. The field is depicted by electric field lines, lines which follow the direction of the electric field in space. Note that every dielectric material has a characteristic dielectric strength which is the maximum value of electric field before breakdown occurs and charges begin to flow. The dielectric material supports the electric field but opposes the flow of charges. A dielectric may lose its insulator qualities in electromagnetic fields if the field surpasses a threshold value. Dielectric strength is defined as the maximum voltage required to produce a dielectric breakdown through a material, expressed as Volts per unit thickness. This process occurs when the electric field strength exceeds the dielectric strength of the material, causing it to fail as an insulator. They play a crucial role in capacitors, influencing their performance and electrical properties. Learn about various materials, conductivity, etc. , the external field will compel the molecules to align their dipole moments along its own direction. Dielectrics are materials characterized by their ability to be polarized in an electric field, which is defined by their relative permittivity (ε_r) and conductivity (σ). An electrostatic field also forms around any single object that is electrically charged with respect to its environment. Jun 18, 2023 · Unlike metals or semiconductors, dielectric materials have no free electrons to move through them under an electric field. The field is stronger in places where the Jan 14, 2024 · The electrical properties of dielectric materials are characterized by their permittivity, which is a measure of the material’s ability to store electrical energy in an electric field. Mar 23, 2025 · Dielectric strength is a critical property in the design and use of electrical systems. heat). When a dielectric is placed in an external electric field, its molecules gain electric dipole moment and the dielectric is said to be polarized. k. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of A dielectric is an insulating material that does not conduct electricity but can be polarized by an electric field. It is a crucial property in the context of capacitors, as it determines how much voltage a capacitor can handle before the insulating material fails, allowing current to flow through. Breakdown voltage Ubreak is the minimum voltage value that leads to the breakdown of a dielectric. See full list on physics. The important consequence of imposing a static external field across the capacitor is that the positively and negatively charged species in the dielectric become polarized. The two definitions of the dielectric constant are illustrated by the diagram below (the green arrows represent the electric field). In practice, it is measured as the "relative dielectric constant," which is defined as the ratio of the amount of electrical energy stored in an insulator when a static electric field is imposed The threshold value of the electric field intensity at which this occurs is known as the dielectric strength, and the sudden change in behavior observed in the presence of an electric field greater than this threshold value is known as dielectric breakdown. Discover expressions like "dielectric strength", "dielectric heating", "dielectric constant". What is a Dielectric Material and What are its Classifications? Now we discuss about the materials which do not conduct electricity and can be inserted between the plates of a capacitor. Higher dielectric strength indicates better insulating Aug 17, 2025 · Dielectric polarization is the term given to describe the response of materials to an externally applied electric field. a substance or medium that can sustain a static electric field within it 2. In electricity (electromagnetism), the electric susceptibility ( ; Latin: susceptibilis "receptive") is a dimensionless proportionality constant that indicates the degree of polarization of a dielectric material in response to an applied electric field. Meaning of dielectric. In general, χ e varies slightly depending on the strength of the electric field, but for some materials, called linear dielectrics, it is a constant. When they are placed in an electric field, charges are induced on their surfaces . The dielectric constant is a measure of how much the electric field within a dielectric is reduced compared to the electric field in free space. Apr 10, 2025 · Example 4 5 2: Inserting a Dielectric into a Capacitor Connected to a Battery When a battery of voltage V 0 is connected across an empty capacitor of capacitance C 0, the charge on its plates is Q 0, and the electrical field between its plates is E 0. This is referred to as the breakdown field or dielectric strength. The positive charge shifts along the electric field and negative charge in direction opposite to field. All insulating materials undergo breakdown when the Dielectric materials can be polarized by an applied electric field, resulting in the separation of positive and negative charges within the material. When an insulator is placed in an electric field, it resists current flow. Understanding dielectric strength is essential for ensuring the Oct 11, 2025 · Dielectric constant, property of an electrical insulating material (a dielectric) equal to the ratio of the capacitance of a capacitor filled with the given material to the capacitance of an identical capacitor in a vacuum without the dielectric. Dielectric loss is an important factor in understanding how dielectrics behave in capacitors Dielectric constant, also known as relative permittivity, is a fundamental concept in physics and electrical engineering. Definition Electrical breakdown is the phenomenon that occurs when an insulating material becomes conductive due to an applied electric field that exceeds its dielectric strength. g. Dielectric materials include types of glass, mica, bakelite, plexiglass, and kinds of paper,. When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, electric charges do not flow through the material as they do in a conductor, but only slightly shift from their average equilibrium positions causing dielectric polarization DIELECTRIC definition: 1. [1] It can be parameterized in terms of either the loss angle δ or the corresponding loss tangent tan (δ). 3 meanings: 1. What are uniform & non-uniform electric fields. The polarization of dielectric material is defined as the process of production of electrical dipoles inside the dielectric by the application of an external electrical field. Definition Dielectric strength is the maximum electric field a dielectric material can withstand without experiencing breakdown, leading to electrical conduction. The displacement field satisfies Gauss's law in a dielectric: ∇ ⋅ D = ρ − ρ b = ρ f Definition A dielectric is an insulating material that increases the storage capacity of a capacitor by reducing the electric field within it. Meaning of dielectric strength. A dielectric is an electrical insulating material that can be polarized by an applied electric field (notation: E; unit: volt per meter – V/m). Understand its definition, formula, and relative permittivity, units and its value for different mediums. May 2, 2020 · Definition: Dielectric is the materials that do not allow electricity to flow within them but show electric effects. Sep 1, 2025 · permittivity, constant of proportionality that relates the electric field in a material to the electric displacement in that material. In electromagnetism, the absolute permittivity, often simply called permittivity and denoted by the Greek letter ε (epsilon), is a measure of the electric polarizability of a dielectric material. For a specific piece of dielectric material and location of electrodes Nov 8, 2023 · Dielectric materials possess a characteristic known as the dielectric constant. Dec 21, 2024 · Definition of Dielectric Loss Dielectric loss refers to the conversion of part of the electrical energy into heat when a dielectric material is exposed to an alternating electric field, caused by mechanisms such as polarization lag and conduction effects within the material. The For each material, there is a characteristic field strength needed to cause dielectric breakdown. Electric Polarization Jan 14, 2024 · Dielectric Strength The dielectric strength of insulating material is defined as the highest electric field strength that it can tolerate intrinsically without losing its insulating characteristics. Dielectric materials with a high permittivity can store more electrical energy than those with a low permittivity. It is a property of particles with an electric charge. It has the ability to store electrical energy in an electric field when subjected to voltage, causing the formation of an electric field within the material. Know the definition, types, properties and solved examples along with detailed explanation on the topic to understand. Learn more. net dictionary. without failure of its insulating properties). The electric displacement field " D " is defined as where is the vacuum permittivity (also called permittivity of free space), E is the electric field, and P is the (macroscopic) density of the permanent and induced electric dipole moments in the material, called the polarization density. Sep 13, 2022 · The dielectric constant of a substance or material is a measure of its ability to store electrical energy. In a conductor, electrical charge carriers, usually electrons or charged ions, move easily from atom to atom when voltage is applied. Dielectrics are commonly used in capacitors and various electrical devices to prevent current flow […] Apr 30, 2025 · The dielectric constant, also known as relative permittivity, is the measure of a material’s ability to store electrical energy in an electric field. Definition The dielectric effect refers to the phenomenon where a material, known as a dielectric, becomes polarized when exposed to an electric field, affecting its ability to store electrical energy. When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, it becomes polarized, which creates an induced electric field that opposes the applied field. Calculate it using κ = ε / ε₀. Electrical breakdown in an electric discharge showing the ribbon-like plasma filaments from a Tesla coil. The factors that determine the polarization of a material depends on the … Dielectric materials. The dielectric strength E m is the maximum electric field magnitude the dielectric can withstand without breaking down and conducting. In electronics, electrical breakdown or dielectric breakdown is a process that occurs when an electrically insulating material (a dielectric), subjected to a high enough voltage, suddenly becomes a conductor and current flows through it. AI generated definition based on: Selection of Polymeric Materials, 2008 In physics, the term dielectric strength has the following meanings: for a pure electrically insulating material, the maximum electric field that the material can withstand under ideal conditions without undergoing electrical breakdown and becoming electrically conductive (i. Dielectrics are a class of insulators Dielectrics - HyperPhysics Dielectrics The two definitions of the dielectric constant are illustrated by the diagram below (the green arrows represent the electric field). Let us consider a dielectric slab in an electric field which is acting in the direction shown in the figure. This is known as edge effects, and the non-uniform fields near the edge are called the fringing fields. Polarization occurs when an electric field distorts the negative cloud of electrons around positive atomic nuclei in a direction opposite the field. A polarized dielectric between two charged plates. [1] Dielectric materials are insulators that can be polarized in the presence of an electric field. 2. The field intensity or electric field strength is indicated by spacing of the lines. The permittivity of a dielectric material determines its ability to store electric energy, which is a crucial property for the performance of capacitors. When subjected to an electric field, these materials develop induced charges on their surfaces, which affects the overall electric field within the material. They are called insulators or dielectrics. Dielectric In electromagnetism, a dielectric (or dielectric material or dielectric medium) is an electrical insulator that can be polarized when the insulator is in an electric field. Charging occurs only as the field within the insulator is changing. Dielectric strength is measured as the maximum voltage required to The presence of the dielectric also modifies the cut-off frequency fc. Common dielectric materials include glass, rubber, and air, each with varying dielectric constants that influence their effectiveness. AI generated definition based on: Film Properties of Plastics and Elastomers (Third Edition), 2012 The dielectric constant is generally defined to be κ = E 0 / E, or the ratio of the electric field in a vacuum to that in the dielectric material, and is intimately related to the polarizability of the material. The presence of a dielectric material between the plates of a capacitor increases its capacitance DIELECTRIC meaning: 1. The electric field is defined at each point in space as the force that would be experienced by an infinitesimally Thus, the electric field lines at the edge of the plates are not straight lines, and the field is not contained entirely between the plates. This is called dielectric polarization. In electromagnetism, a dielectric (or dielectric medium) is an electrical insulator that can be polarised by an applied electric field. Jun 19, 2023 · Key learnings: Dielectric Material Definition: A dielectric material is an electrical insulator that becomes polarized when exposed to an electric field, aligning its internal charges without conducting electricity. Feb 17, 2023 · What is the physical significance of the electric field. A dielectric of dielectric constant κ is inserted between the plates while the battery remains in place, as shown in Figure 4 5 4. The permittivity also characterizes the ability of the dielectric to store electric energy in an electrical field. The effectiveness of a dielectric in enhancing capacitance is quantified In classical electromagnetism, polarization density (or electric polarization, or simply polarization) is the vector field that expresses the volumetric density of permanent or induced electric dipole moments in a dielectric material. Dielectric Strength The dielectric strength of insulating material is defined as the highest electric field strength that it can tolerate intrinsically without losing its insulating characteristics. The dielectric constant K has no unit and is greater than or equal to one (K ≥ 1). A material with high permittivity, such as strontium titanate, polarizes more in dielectric definition: of or relating to a medium that can support an electric field. Mar 5, 2022 · Table of contents Electric susceptibility Dielectric constant Electric permittivity Reference The general relations derived in the previous section may be used to describe the electrostatics of any dielectrics – materials with bound electric charges (and hence with negligible dc electric conduction). However, when exposed to an electric field, the negative charges move up the field and the positive Oct 19, 2025 · When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, it acquires a polarization that depends on the field. This property is crucial for understanding how well a material can insulate against electric fields, making it essential in applications involving conductors and insulators. a substance or body of very low. Dielectrics play a crucial role in the behavior of capacitors, affecting their charge distribution and energy storage capabilities. Dielectric strength is measured as the maximum voltage required to The relative permittivity (in older texts, dielectric constant) is the permittivity of a material expressed as a ratio with the electric permittivity of a vacuum. Jan 16, 2025 · Dielectric heating, also known as capacitive heating or radiofrequency (RF) heating, is a process in which non-conductive (dielectric) materials are heated by applying an alternating electric field. This is my textbook’s definition of dielectric: “A substance that is a poor conductor of electricity, but a good supporter of electric fields”. able to contain an electric field without conducting (= passing along) electricity: 2. It affects the efficiency of capacitors and insulating materials, especially at high frequencies. Click for more definitions. It is typically measured in volts per meter (V/m). Aug 30, 2022 · Electric Field Lines Often electric fields are depicted with continuous lines in space. Polarizability usually refers to the tendency of matter, when subjected to an electric field, to acquire an electric dipole moment in proportion to that applied field. When all of the atoms in a dielectric polarize, they end up creating a field that points in the opposite direction to the applied field, resulting in a smaller field electric field: Figure 1. When subject to an electric field, the negatively charged electrons and positively charged atomic nuclei are subject to opposite forces and undergo charge separation An electric field is a physical field produced by electrically charged objects, influencing the force and motion of other charged objects. Materials with higher dielectric constants can store more electric charge. Learn its strength, intensity, equation, formula, & unit. In electrostatics, the The electrical properties of dielectric materials are characterized by their permittivity, which is a measure of the material’s ability to store electrical energy in an electric field. The May 11, 2025 · Dielectric strength is a key electrical property of insulating (dielectric) materials, representing their ability to resist electric breakdown. Learn more in this article. Definition Dielectric breakdown is the phenomenon where an insulating material becomes conductive due to the application of a high electric field, leading to a sudden increase in current flow. Understanding dielectric constant is crucial in various fields, including electronics, materials science, and telecommunications. This process is crucial in understanding how conductors and insulators behave polarization density, P (a. The dielectric constant k is defined to reflect the amount of reduction of effective electric field as shown below. They can be classified into different types, such as vacuum, gases, liquids, and solids. Without dielectric materials, you probably wouldn’t be able to watch this video! These materials are very common in all the technologies we use everyday. It measures the dielectric breakdown resistance under an applied voltage. In an earlier chapter we considered the behavior of conductors, in which the charges move freely in response to an electric field to such points that there is no field left inside a conductor. In a sufficiently strong electric field, the insulating properties of an insulator break down, allowing the flow of charge. It is an indicator of how good a material is as an insulator. e. An applied electric field causes the molecules to reorient uniformly since the negative and positive ends of each molecule in the A dielectric material is an electrical insulator which polarizes on the application of electric field due to shifting and net displacement of positive and negative charge cloud. Dielectrics are characterized by their ability to be polarized in the presence of an electric field. What does dielectric strength mean? Information and translations of dielectric strength in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. In a non-polarized state, these charges are oriented randomly. A material with high permittivity polarizes more in response to an applied electric field than a material with low permittivity, thereby storing more energy in the material. This constant quantifies a material's capacity to store electrical energy within an electric field. It refers to the maximum electric field a material can withstand without undergoing electrical breakdown. When this happens, the material can no longer effectively resist the flow of electric current, leading to a sudden discharge or arcing. A dielectric material, when placed between the plates of a capacitor, affects the electric field and consequently alters the capacitance of the device. The dielectric strength is measured in units of volts per unit thickness (commonly expressed in volts per millimeter or volts per inch) and indicates how well Feb 5, 2025 · A dielectric can be placed between the plates of a capacitor to increase its capacitance. A dielectric may be made up of polar or non-polar molecules. This phenomenon arises due to the lagging response of the dipoles within the dielectric, resulting in the conversion of electrical energy into heat. Typically values of the dielectric strength lie in the range 10 6 – 10 9 Vm-1. A dielectric is a non-conductive material that can be polarized by an electric field, meaning it can store electrical energy when placed in an electric field. For a waveguide or transmission line containing more than one type of dielectric medium (such as microstrip), the wave impedance will in general vary over the cross-section of the line. Prepare for NEET exams by mastering the dielectric constant. Feb 2, 2023 · The ability of a dielectric material to polarize in response to an electric field is characterized by its dielectric constant or relative permittivity. Most metals like copper are considered good conductors, while nonmetals are considered bad conductors -- that is, insulators. However, to form a full system of equations necessary to solve electrostatics problems, they Conclusion Dielectric materials are electrical insulators that can be polarized by an applied electric field. This means that the positive and negative charges within the dielectric align themselves in a specific way in response to the electric field. When a dielectric is placed between charged plates, the polarization of the medium produces an electric field opposing the field of the charges on the plate. Without an electric field, the polar molecules of the dielectric are oriented in random directions. The exact value of the dielectric strength depends on many factors – most obviously the size of the energy gap, but also the geometry and May 27, 2024 · Application in Capacitors and Dielectrics One primary application of the electric displacement field is in the design and analysis of capacitors, especially those involving dielectric materials. Dielectric loss is the energy lost as heat in a dielectric when it is subjected to a varying electric field (as in AC circuits). a electric polarization, or simply polarization) - density of permanent or induced electric dipole moments in a dielectric material. This behavior is quantified by the dielectric constant, which determines how much the capacitance of a capacitor increases when a dielectric is introduced. Properties Overview: Key properties of dielectric materials include dielectric constant, strength, and loss—factors that influence their efficiency and application in technology Definition of dielectric in the Definitions. a…. info Jun 9, 2020 · According to the definition of the dielectric constant (k) for a dielectric, the electric field in the dielectric is defined as the corresponding electric field in vacuum divided by k. When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, it can store electrical energy by reducing the overall electric field within the material, which makes it crucial in the design and function of capacitors. A dielectric is an insulating material, and the dielectric constant of an insulator measures the ability of the insulator to store electric energy in an electrical field. They can be also defined as a substance that does not allow the flow of charges through it permits them to exert electric field and force. Instead, they have bound electrons that are attached to atoms or molecules and can only shift slightly from their equilibrium positions. This property is crucial in various applications, such as capacitors and electrical insulation, where the Permittivity – Absolute and Relative In electromagnetism, permittivity, which is also known as absolute permittivity, is a measure of the electric polarizability of a dielectric or an insulator. Electric field of a positive point electric charge suspended over an infinite sheet of conducting material. They have various properties, such as dielectric constant, dielectric strength, and dielectric loss. In Figure 5. 10–1 The dielectric constant Here we begin to discuss another of the peculiar properties of matter under the influence of the electric field. But the net effect of an external field is almost the same, i. The substances which have no free electrons cannot conduct electricity. This sounds a lot like an insulator, so is there any difference? For each material, there is a characteristic field strength needed to cause dielectric breakdown. 1 the field lines are drawn by taking into consideration edge effects. Definition Dielectric strength is the maximum electric field that a material can withstand without experiencing breakdown or becoming conductive. Check meanings, examples, usage tips, pronunciation, domains, and related words. Find the Dielectric constant The dielectric constant (or static permittivity) of a material (under given conditions) is a measure of the extent to which the material concentrates electrostatic lines of flux. The induced charge distribution in the sheet is not shown. Definition Dielectric loss refers to the energy dissipation that occurs in a dielectric material when it is subjected to an alternating electric field. Definition Dielectric materials are insulating substances that do not conduct electricity but can be polarized by an electric field. When exposed to an electric field, dielectrics develop an induced electric field that opposes the external field, reducing the net electric field. In general, the more available polarisation mechanisms a material possesses, the larger its net polarisation in a given field will be and hence the larger its dielectric constant will be. It describes the ability of a material to store electrical energy in an electric field. Apr 2, 2025 · A conductor, or electrical conductor, is a substance or material that allows electricity to flow through it. Definition of dielectric strength in the Definitions. A dielectric is an insulating material that can polarize when placed in an electric field. The electric susceptibility χ e relates the polarization to the electric field as P = χ eE. A dielectric is defined as a medium, such as a polymeric material, that can maintain an electrified field with minimal energy supply from external sources, allowing for the recovery of the energy used to produce the electric field. It measures the electrical strength of a material as an insulator, with higher values indicating better insulating quality. What does dielectric mean? Information and translations of dielectric in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Dielectric polarisation causes positive charges to flow in the direction of the field and negative charges to shift in the opposite direction of the field. Oct 10, 2025 · When dielectrics are placed in an electric field, practically no current flows in them because, unlike metals, they have no loosely bound, or free, electrons that may drift through the material. In electrical engineering, dielectric loss is a dielectric material 's inherent dissipation of electromagnetic energy (e. The field vectors are tangent to the field lines at any given point, and these lines indicate the path that a positive charge would travel if allowed to move freely in the field. AI generated definition based on: Bioimpedance and Bioelectricity Basics (Fourth Edition), 2023 electric polarization, slight relative shift of positive and negative electric charge in opposite directions within an insulator, or dielectric, induced by an external electric field. Oct 24, 2024 · Such substances are called dielectrics, and they actually provide an effect similar to what is seen in conductors, though it is not extreme enough to completely cancel the field. The greater the electric susceptibility, the greater the ability of a material to polarize in response to the field, and thereby reduce the Dec 7, 2022 · What is an electrostatic field? When two objects in each other's vicinity have different electrical charges, an electrostatic field exists between them. The larger the tendency for charge distortion (also called electric polarization), the larger the value of the permittivity. Definition Dielectric strength is the maximum electric field that a material can withstand without experiencing electrical breakdown. This phenomenon yields an internal electric field, which in turn reduces the overall electric field within the dielectric material. This polarization occurs as positive and negative charges within the dielectric material shift in response to the electric field, resulting in the material's capacitance increasing. It is crucial in understanding how electrical devices operate Oct 17, 2023 · Definition of Dielectric A dielectric is an insulating material that does not conduct electric current. The presence of a dielectric increases the capacitance because it actually decreases the electric field inside the capacitor by a factor of the dielectric constant. Jul 10, 2025 · Dielectric strength reflects the electric strength of insulating materials at various power frequencies. Electric Jan 25, 2023 · Learn all the concepts on dielectric and polarisation. Start with a slab of neutrally-charged dielectric located between two neutrally-charged conductor plates. sg4 brx3e qawvxw7 ezolem eouqugdb afzv 2hxaw dm fcwqa 8bf6wd