Effect of Dielectric Material on Electric Field in a Parallel Plate Capacitor

[Sheneron]

Homework Statement

A fully charged parallel plat capacitor remains connected to a battery while a dielectric is slid between. Does the electric field increase, decrease, or remain the same?

The Attempt at a Solution

Don't know this one or how to show it. I know that potential difference is constant and the capacitance and charge will increase, but I can't figure out the E. field.

 

[Hootenanny]

What happens to a dielectric material when it is placed in an external electric field?

 

[Sheneron]

I am not sure

 

[Hootenanny]

I am not sure

Well, what is a dielectric?

 

[Sheneron]

a nonconducting material.

 

[Hootenanny]

a nonconducting material.

Erm... yes, but I meant on the atomic scale. In electromagnetism it is useful to think of dielectrics in a magnetic field as to be composed of dipoles. So, when you have a dipole in an electric field how does it tend to align itself with respect to the electric field?

 

[Sheneron]

Not quite that far along yet. Is there a more simple solution? We haven't talked about dipoles or magnetic fields.