darkeng said:Homework Statement
C1 = 12uF, C2=20uF, and the capacitors are charged so that the voltage across each capacitor is 6V. When a dielectric material is inserted between the plates of C1, the charge on C2 changes by 32 uC. Calculate the dielectric constant of the material, k. (PS. C1 is parallel to C2)
Homework Equations
C=q/v
The Attempt at a Solution
This is my method. 6V = (12x6+20x6+32)/(12k + 20), then solve for k, but it seems like it won't give me the right answer.
darkeng said:Hi LowlyPion,
The question didn't mention that but I think it's not disconnected.
Thanks
darkeng said:so Q1 becomes 72+32 and Q2 becomes 120-32?
Then how do I find the new voltage?
darkeng said:ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i got it now! so Q1 after = 72+32 = 104 uC and Q2 after = 120-32 = 88 uC
104/12*k = 88/20, then k=1.97?
Thanks!
The dielectric constant, denoted as k, is a measure of a material's ability to store electrical energy in an electric field relative to a vacuum. It is a dimensionless quantity and is often used to compare the insulating properties of different materials.
The dielectric constant of a material can be determined experimentally by measuring the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor filled with the material and comparing it to the capacitance of the same capacitor with a vacuum between the plates. It can also be calculated using the material's electric susceptibility and permittivity.
The dielectric constant of a material is affected by its chemical composition, molecular structure, temperature, and frequency of the electric field. In general, materials with polar molecules or free electrons have higher dielectric constants, while nonpolar materials have lower dielectric constants.
The dielectric constant plays a crucial role in the functioning of electronic devices, particularly in capacitors. It determines the capacitance of a material and its ability to store and release electrical energy, which is essential for the operation of devices like computers, smartphones, and televisions.
Yes, the dielectric constant of a material can be changed by applying an external electric field, changing the temperature, or altering the chemical composition of the material. This property is utilized in devices such as varactors, which have variable capacitance based on the applied voltage, to control the flow of electric current.