Introduction
The nonconducting materials such as paper, wood, glass, ceramics, polymers and so on do not have free charge carriers, that is, electrons or holes. Therefore, they prevent the flow of electrical current and heat through them.
When the main function of nonconducting materials is to provide electrical isolation then they are called insulators.
When the main function of nonconducting materials is for charge storage then it is called dielectric.
The dielectrics are polarized under the influence of an external electric field.
Dielectric Constant
Let us consider two parallel plates separated by a distance “d” connected with a dc supply of voltage V, as shown in Figure 6.1(a). Now the circuit is disconnected, and the dielectric is inserted between the plates, as shown in Figure 6.1(b).
Then, the voltage across the capacitor is reduced from V to V′. The change in voltage across the plates can be related by a factor as
Since V < V , the relative permittivity or dielectric constant ɛr 1 >.
The capacitance without dielectric is given as
The capacitance with dielectric is given as
Now, put the value of C and C¢ in equation (6.1), the relative permittivity or dielectric constant is
If “A” is the area of the plates, then
where ɛ is the permittivity of the material.