What Determines Q(free) in Dielectrics?

[coochnpoon]

Hi.

The chapter is electric potentials.

In dielectrics, when solving for Q(bound), Q(free) is required.

What is Q(free)?

Is it Q with OR without the dielectric factored in? Or is C(knot) alone?

Joben.

 

[jtbell]

For a dielectric in a capacitor, $Q_{free}$ is the charge on the capacitor plates themselves, supplied by the circuit that the capacitor is part of.