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- PHY102 Physics II © Dr.Cem Özdoğan
- 25-6 Capacitor with a Dielectric
- (b) If the charge on the capacitor plates is maintained, as in this case by isolating the capacitor, the effect of a dielectric is to reduce the potential difference between the plates. The scale shown is that of a potentiometer, a device used to measure potential difference (here, between the plates). A capacitor cannot discharge through a potentiometer.
- (a)If the potential difference between the plates of a capacitor is maintained, as by the presence of battery B, the effect of a dielectric is to increase the charge on the plates.
- If the space between the plates of a capacitor is completely filled with a dielectric material, the capacitance C in vacuum (or, effectively, in air) is multiplied by the material’s dielectric constant κ, (Greek kappa) which is a number greater than 1.