Dielectrics

and
Polarization

1
 Dielectrics and Polarization
Positive nucleus
-
• In dielectrics, electrons + -
-
cannot be detached by the Negatively charged cloud
application of ordinary
Unpolarized atom
electric fields but a slight
displacement occurs. - E
• The atom behaves like a _
Effective center of clouds
- +
small dipole. -
• The dielectric is in a state of E
Polarized atom
polarization.
_
+
l
Equivalent dipole
2
 Dielectrics and Polarization
• Figure (a) represents a polarized
dielectric slab.
• The polarization P is the total Area A
dipole moment per unit volume
- + - +
QL Q - +
P= = =  sp ....C / m 2 E
AL A - +
-
-
+
+

• Note that the surface charge E

density of polarization charge on - + - +
 spthe same
- +
the slab face, ,has
dimension as D L
Total charge -Q Total charge Q

(a)

3
 Dielectrics and Polarization
Conducting plates

• In figure (b) V is constant

-
and E=-V/L everywhere. + E & D0
• In the upper part D0 = .0 E + -
0
• In the lower part + -
polarization charges appear - + - + -
+ - +
on the slab faces. + -
+ - + - + -
• These charges induce equal - +
-
+ E&D
and opposite free charges + - + - + -
- +
on the plates to maintain E
constant
L
V

(b) 4
 Dielectrics and Polarization
Conducting plates
• In the upper part D0 =  0 E
• In the lower part the surface free + -
charge density is increased by  sp E & D0
• In the lower part + -
D = D0 +  sp =  0 E +  sp 0
+ -
But...sp = P  D =  0 E + P - + - + -
+
Let...D =  E =  0 r E
- + -
+
P
  0 r E =  0 E + P   r = 1 + + - +
- +
- + -
 = permittivity 0E + E&D
-
+ - + - + -
 r = relative... permittivity - +

• In general
L
D = 0 E + P V

(b) 5
 Boundary Relations
• The figure represents a boundary separating two dielectrics of
permittivities 1 &  2
• For the components of E,  E.dl = 0
h h
Et1 w − ( En1 + En2 ) − Et2 w + ( En1 + En2 ) = 0
2 2
Dt1 1
 Et1 = Et2  =
Dt2  2
• If medium (2) is a conductor, Et = 0 .Thus Et1 = 0
2

Et1
Dn1 E1
(1) ∆s w
Boundary of
h separating
a
(2) E2
Dn2 Et2
Point (a) enlarged Point (a) enlarged 6
 Boundary Relations
• For the components of D,  D.ds = Q encl .

 Dn1 s − Dn2 s =  s s  Dn1 − Dn2 = s

•  s is the free surface charge density on the boundary.

En1 2
• For a charged free boundary, Dn1 = Dn2  =
En2 1
• If medium (2) is a conductor, Dn1 =  s
Et1
Dn1 E1
(1) ∆s w
Boundary of
h separating
a
(2) E2
Dn2 Et2
Point (a) enlarged Point (a) enlarged 7
 Dielectric Strength
• The field in a dielectric cannot be increased
indefinitely.
• If E exceeds a certain limit, sparking occurs
and the dielectric is said to break down.
• The maximum E a dielectric can sustain
without breaking is the dielectric strength.