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permittivity (ε)



The ratio of the electric displacement in a medium to the intensity of the electric field producing it. It is important for electrical insulators used as dielectrics.

If two charges q1 and q2 are separated by a distance r in a vacuum, the force F between the charges is given by:

F = q1q2 / 4πε0 r 2.


In this statement of Coulomb's law using SI units, ε0 is called the electric constant, or, in older terminology, the absolute permittivity of free space. It has the value 8.854 × 10-12 F m-1.

If the medium between the charges is anything other than a vacuum the equation becomes

F = q1q2 / 4πε r 2.


and the force between the charges is reduced. ε is the absolute permittivity of the new medium. The relative permittivity (εr ) of a medium, formerly called the dielectric constant, is given by εr = ε / ε0.


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   • ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM


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