Question

What is the electric susceptibility of a dielectric?

Answer 1

Electric susceptibility (\(\chi_e\)) of a dielectric material is a measure of how easily the material can be polarized when exposed to an electric field. It essentially describes how much the material’s electric dipoles align in response to the applied electric field.

In simple terms, when an electric field is applied to a dielectric, the atoms or molecules in the material rearrange so that their positive and negative charges shift slightly. The electric susceptibility quantifies this alignment. A higher susceptibility means that the material becomes more easily polarized.

Formula

The electric susceptibility \(\chi_e\) is related to the material's dielectric constant (\(\varepsilon_r\)) by the following formula:

\[
\varepsilon_r = 1 + \chi_e
\]

where:

1. \(\varepsilon_r\) is the relative permittivity or dielectric constant of the material.
   

1. \(\chi_e\) is the electric susceptibility.
   

Key Points:

1. High \(\chi_e\) means the material polarizes easily, like a good insulator.
   

1. Low \(\chi_e\) means the material resists polarization, like air or vacuum.
   

In summary, electric susceptibility helps understand how a dielectric material reacts to an external electric field and contributes to the overall dielectric behavior of the material.