PHYS 3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 24.4-24.6: Dielectric Strength, Electrical Breakdown, Electric Field
Document Summary
Dielectric = a nonconducting material that most capacitors have between their conducting plates. Solves the mechanical problem of maintaining two large metal sheets at a very small separation without actual contact. Increases maximum potential difference between the capacitor plates. Dielectric breakdown = the partial ionization of any insulating material when subjected to a sufficiently large electric field, permitting conduction through it. Dielectric materials can tolerate stronger electric fields without breakdown than air. Allows greater capacitance capacitance with the dielectric present the plates must decrease by the same factor: When a dielectric material is inserted between the plates while the charge is kept constant, the. Polarization = a phenomenon in which an induced surface charge arises on the dielectric as a result of redistribution of positive and negative charge within the dielectric material. Dielectric constant = the ratio of to , where is the original capacitance and is the.
