Chapter 3:

Static Electric Fields

3-7. Electric Flux Density and Dielectric Constant

3-8. Boundary Conditions for Electrostatic Fields
3-7 Electric Flux Density and Dielectric
Constant

 Using Eq. (3-59), we have

(3-61)

 Define a new fundamental field quantity, the electric flux

density, or electric displacement, D, such that

(3-62)
3-7 Electric Flux Density and Dielectric
Constant

 Combining Eqs. (3-61) and (3-62), we obtain the new

equation :

(3-63)
3-7 Electric Flux Density and Dielectric
Constant

 The corresponding integral form of Eq. (3-63) is obtained

by taking the volume integral of both sides. We have

(3-64)

(3-65)
3-7 Electric Flux Density and Dielectric
Constant

(3-65)

 Eq(3-65) is another form of Gauss’s law, states that the

total outward flux of the electric displacement (or, simply,
the total outward electric flux) over any closed surface is
equal to the total free charge enclosed in the surface.
 3-7 Electric Flux Density and Dielectric
Constant

 When the dielectric properties of the medium are linear and

isotropic,

P= E, (3-66)

is a dimensionless quantity called an electric susceptibility

3-7 Electric Flux Density and Dielectric
Constant
 Substitution of Eq. (3-66) in Eq. (3-62) yields

(3-67)

(3-68)
the relative permittivity or the dielectric constant of
the medium (dimensionless).
3-7 Electric Flux Density and Dielectric
Constant

 The coefficient is the absolute permittivity (or

simply permittivity)
 If is independent of position, the medium is said to be
homogeneous
 A linear homogeneous, and isotropic medium is called a
simple medium
 For anisotropic materials, the dielectric constant is
different for different directions of the electric field, and D
and E vectors have different directions
 3-7.1 Dielectric Strength
 If electrons accelerate under the influence of the strong
electric field, they collide violently with the molecular lattice
structure, and cause permanent dislocations and damage
in the material.
 Avalanche effect of ionization due to collisions may occur
 The material will become conducting
 This phenomenon is called a dielectric breakdown :
“The maximum electric field intensity that a dielectric material
can withstand without breakdown is an dielectric strength of
the material” (Table 3-1)

Examples 3-11 and 3-12

3-8 Boundary Conditions for Electrostatic
Fields
The tangential component of E

(3-7)

The normal component of E

(3-65)

(Fundamentals of Engineering Electromagnetics, Addison-Wesley 1993, by David K. Cheng: p.111)

3-8 Boundary Conditions for Electrostatic
Fields
The tangential component of E field :
     
 E  dl  E1  w  E2  (w)  E1t  w  E2t  w  0
abcde

(3-72)

which states that the tangential component of an E field is

continuous across an interface .

(3-73)
3-8 Boundary Conditions for Electrostatic
Fields
The normal component of E field :

(3-74)

(3-75a)

(3-75b)

where the reference unit normal is outward from medium 2.

3-8 Boundary Conditions for Electrostatic
Fields
The normal component of E field :
 The normal component of D field is discontinuous across
an interface where a surface charge exists  the amount
of discontinuity being equal to the surface charge density
 If medium 2 is a conductor, D2 = 0 and Eq. (3-75b)
becomes
(3-76)

 Eq (3-76) simplifies to Eq. (3-46) when medium 1 is free

space.
s
En  (3-46) at a conductor – free space boundary
0
3-8 Boundary Conditions for
Electrostatic Fields

 When two dielectrics are in contact with no free charges

at the interface, = 0,

(3-77)

(3-78)
3-8 Boundary Conditions for Electrostatic
Fields
 Summing up, the boundary conditions that must be
satisfied for static electric fields are:

Tangential components : E1t  E2t (3-79)

  
Normal components : an 2  ( D1  D2 )   s (3-80)

where the reference unit normal is outward from medium 2.

Examples 3-13 and 3-14