capacitors

Question 1

What is a polar molecule?

Answer 1

A molecule with a positive end and a negative end

Question 2

What is a dielectric?

Answer 2

A material which is made of polar molecules

Question 3

What happens when an electric field is applied across a dielectric?

Answer 3

The polar molecules align with the field

Question 4

What does anti-parallel mean?

Answer 4

Aligned with the field, but in the opposing direction

Question 5

Why is the resultant electric field reduced in dielectrics?

Answer 5

The molecules each have an electric field,
which opposes the field due to the plates

Question 6

Why does reducing electric fields increase the capacitance of the plates?

Answer 6

The p.d needed to push charge onto the plate is reduced as the field is weaker

Question 7

What is dielectric constant?

Answer 7

Permittivity of median/permittivity of free space

Question 8

Explain how polar molecules change capacitance

Answer 8

1) polar molecules align with positive side facing the negative side plate
2) this produces a counter electric field, reducing the field between plates
3) the pd reduces between the plates but charge remains the same so Q/V increases