Electric susceptibility vs relative permitivity

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SUMMARY

Electric susceptibility (χ) is defined as the relative permittivity (κ) of a dielectric minus one, expressed mathematically as χ = κ - 1. This relationship indicates that while χ may seem redundant, it serves a practical purpose in simplifying equations. The polarization (P) of a dielectric is given by the equation P = χE, while the electric displacement (D) is described by D = κε₀E. Both χ and κ are essential in different contexts within electromagnetism.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of dielectric materials
  • Familiarity with electromagnetic theory
  • Knowledge of the equations for polarization and electric displacement
  • Basic grasp of relative permittivity concepts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the applications of electric susceptibility in material science
  • Study the implications of relative permittivity in capacitor design
  • Explore the relationship between electric fields and dielectric polarization
  • Learn about the role of ε₀ (vacuum permittivity) in electromagnetic equations
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Physicists, electrical engineers, and materials scientists interested in the properties of dielectrics and their applications in electromagnetic theory.

Nikitin
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So for dielectrics, electric susceptibility (χ) is just the relative permittivity of the dielectric (κ) minus one?
=> χ = κ -1?

Why? Doesn't this mean χ is a completely pointless constant? Just a different way to write κ?
 
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Yes, it is simply sometimes convenient not to have to write -1 all the time.
 
{\bf P=\chi E}.
{\bf D=\kappa\epsilon_0 E}.
\chi and \kappa are used in different relations.
 
Last edited:

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