Electric susceptibility vs relative permitivity

In summary, electric susceptibility and relative permittivity are related but distinct properties that play a role in the behavior of electric fields within materials. Electric susceptibility measures a material's ability to be polarized by an electric field, while relative permittivity measures how much the field is weakened when passing through the material. They are related by the equation X = ε - 1 and have different units of measurement. In practical applications, these properties are important in designing electronic devices.
  • #1
Nikitin
735
27
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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  • #2
Yes, it is simply sometimes convenient not to have to write -1 all the time.
 
  • #3
[tex]{\bf P=\chi E}[/tex].
[tex]{\bf D=\kappa\epsilon_0 E}[/tex].
[itex]\chi[/itex] and [itex]\kappa[/itex] are used in different relations.
 
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1. What is the difference between electric susceptibility and relative permittivity?

Electric susceptibility is a measure of how easily a material can be polarized by an external electric field, while relative permittivity is a measure of how much an electric field is weakened when passing through a material. In other words, electric susceptibility is a property of the material itself, while relative permittivity is a property of the material's interaction with an electric field.

2. How are electric susceptibility and relative permittivity related?

Electric susceptibility and relative permittivity are related by the equation X = ε - 1, where X is the electric susceptibility and ε is the relative permittivity. This shows that electric susceptibility is directly proportional to relative permittivity.

3. What is the unit of measurement for electric susceptibility and relative permittivity?

The unit of measurement for electric susceptibility is typically expressed in units of volume, such as m^3/V, while relative permittivity is a dimensionless quantity.

4. How do electric susceptibility and relative permittivity affect the behavior of electric fields?

Electric susceptibility and relative permittivity both play a role in determining the strength and direction of electric fields within a material. Materials with a higher electric susceptibility will be more easily polarized by an electric field, while materials with a higher relative permittivity will weaken the electric field passing through them.

5. What is the significance of electric susceptibility and relative permittivity in practical applications?

Electric susceptibility and relative permittivity are important properties in understanding and predicting the behavior of materials in the presence of electric fields. They are used in a variety of practical applications, such as in the design of capacitors, insulators, and other electronic devices.

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