Question

What is another name for relative permittivity?

Answer 1

Another name for **relative permittivity** is **dielectric constant**.

This term describes the ability of a material to store electrical energy in an electric field compared to the ability of a vacuum (or air) to do so. In simpler terms, it measures how much a material can "permit" the formation of an electric field within it. The higher the dielectric constant (relative permittivity), the better the material is at storing electric energy.

### Explanation:
- **Permittivity (ε)**: The measure of a material's ability to resist an electric field, influencing how electric fields behave in materials.
- **Relative permittivity (εr)**: This is the ratio of the permittivity of a material (ε) to the permittivity of free space or vacuum (ε₀). Mathematically, it’s given as:
  
  \[
  \varepsilon_r = \frac{\varepsilon}{\varepsilon_0}
  \]

  - **εr** (relative permittivity) tells how much the material can store electric energy compared to a vacuum.
  - **Dielectric constant** is an older term used interchangeably with relative permittivity, especially in engineering and physics contexts.

Although both terms refer to the same concept, modern texts and scientific papers prefer "relative permittivity" for clarity and precision.

Answer 2

Another name for relative permittivity is "dielectric constant." This term is often used to describe the ability of a material to store electrical energy in an electric field relative to the vacuum.