Electric Susceptibility

Definition

Electric susceptibility is a measure of how easily a material becomes polarized in response to an applied electric field. It quantifies the degree to which a dielectric material can store and release electric charge when exposed to an external electric field.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Electric susceptibility is a dimensionless quantity that represents the degree to which a material becomes polarized in response to an applied electric field.
2. The electric susceptibility of a material is directly related to its dielectric constant, which determines the extent to which the material can store and release electric charge.
3. Highly polarizable materials, such as water and other polar molecules, have a high electric susceptibility and dielectric constant, allowing them to store more electric energy.
4. The electric susceptibility of a material affects the capacitance of a capacitor, as the presence of a dielectric material between the plates increases the stored charge for a given voltage.
5. The molecular model of a dielectric material explains how the electric susceptibility arises from the alignment of electric dipoles within the material when an external electric field is applied.

Review Questions

• Explain how the electric susceptibility of a material affects the capacitance of a capacitor.
  • The electric susceptibility of a material is directly related to its dielectric constant, which determines the extent to which the material can store and release electric charge. When a dielectric material is placed between the plates of a capacitor, it increases the capacitance by allowing more charge to be stored for a given voltage. This is because the polarization of the dielectric material in response to the applied electric field results in a higher electric flux density and, consequently, a higher capacitance.
• Describe how the molecular model of a dielectric material explains the concept of electric susceptibility.
  • The molecular model of a dielectric material explains that electric susceptibility arises from the alignment of electric dipoles within the material when an external electric field is applied. In a dielectric material, the molecules or atoms may have a natural separation of positive and negative charges, creating electric dipole moments. When an external electric field is applied, these dipole moments tend to align with the field, resulting in a net polarization of the material. The degree of this polarization is quantified by the electric susceptibility, which measures the material's ability to become polarized and store electric charge in response to the applied field.
• Analyze the relationship between electric susceptibility, dielectric constant, and permittivity, and explain how these concepts are interconnected.
  • Electric susceptibility, dielectric constant, and permittivity are all closely related concepts that describe the ability of a material to store and release electric charge. Electric susceptibility is a dimensionless quantity that represents the degree to which a material becomes polarized in response to an applied electric field. The dielectric constant is the ratio of the permittivity of a substance to the permittivity of free space, and it determines the extent to which a material can concentrate electric flux. Permittivity, on the other hand, is a measure of the ability of a material to store electric energy in an electric field. These three properties are interconnected, as the electric susceptibility is directly related to the dielectric constant, and both are related to the material's permittivity. Understanding the relationships between these concepts is crucial for analyzing the behavior of dielectric materials and their applications in devices such as capacitors.

Related terms

Polarization: The process by which an electric field causes the positive and negative charges within a dielectric material to slightly separate, resulting in an induced electric dipole moment.

Dielectric Constant: The ratio of the permittivity of a substance to the permittivity of free space, which determines the extent to which a material concentrates electric flux.

Permittivity: A measure of the ability of a material to store electric energy in an electric field, which is related to the material's susceptibility and dielectric constant.