Electric susceptibility is a measure of the degree to which a material can be polarized by an external electric field. It is a dimensionless quantity that describes the relationship between the induced polarization and the applied electric field.
Electric susceptibility of a material is determined by the properties of its constituent atoms. The electronic structure and bonding of atoms influence their polarizability, which in turn affects the overall electric susceptibility of the material.
The electric susceptibility of a gas is typically lower than that of a solid for the same kind of atoms. This is because the atoms in a gas are more spread out and have more freedom to move, making them less polarizable compared to the atoms in a solid where they are more closely packed and have less mobility.
Temperature has a significant impact on the electric susceptibility of a material. Generally, as temperature increases, the electric susceptibility decreases due to increased thermal motion of the atoms, which decreases their polarizability.
Yes, the electric susceptibility of a material can be altered by changing its temperature, pressure, or by adding impurities. Additionally, certain materials can be engineered to have higher or lower susceptibilities for specific applications.