Dielectric constant is throwing me off

In summary, dielectric constant is a measure of a material's ability to store electrical energy in an electric field. It is typically measured using a capacitance meter and is influenced by factors such as the type of material, temperature, and frequency of the applied electric field. Dielectric constant is important in various fields and can impact properties such as electrical conductivity and thermal properties. It also affects capacitance, with higher dielectric constants resulting in higher capacitance.
  • #1
Ahmed.Sandman
2
0
A spherical capacitor is formed from two concentric, spherical, conducting shells separated by vacuum. The inner sphere has radius 0.39 m and the capacitance is 108 pF. What is the radius of the outer sphere? Give your answer in meters to the third decimal place.

C-->Capacitance
K*C*rb-K*C*ra=ra*rb

it says its a vacuum so I'm using K=1

but I'm not getting a correct answer?!??!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2

Related to Dielectric constant is throwing me off

What is dielectric constant?

Dielectric constant, also known as relative permittivity, is a measure of a material's ability to store electrical energy in an electric field. It is a dimensionless quantity that describes the ratio of the electric flux density in the material to the electric flux density in a vacuum.

How is dielectric constant measured?

Dielectric constant is typically measured using a device called a capacitance meter. This instrument applies an electric field to the material and measures the resulting displacement of electrons. The ratio of the capacitance of the material to the capacitance of a vacuum is then used to calculate the dielectric constant.

What factors affect dielectric constant?

The dielectric constant of a material is influenced by several factors, including the type of material, its temperature, and the frequency of the applied electric field. In general, materials with polar molecules, such as water, have higher dielectric constants than non-polar materials, such as gases.

Why is dielectric constant important?

Dielectric constant is an important property in various fields, including electronics, chemistry, and materials science. It determines the strength of the electric field within a material, which can impact its electrical conductivity, thermal properties, and chemical reactions. It is also essential in the design of electronic devices and circuits.

How does dielectric constant affect capacitance?

The dielectric constant of a material affects its ability to store electrical energy, which in turn affects its capacitance. Materials with higher dielectric constants have higher capacitance, meaning they can store more charge for a given voltage. This is why dielectric materials, such as ceramics or polymers, are often used in capacitors to increase their capacitance.

Similar threads

Why can we model spherical capacitor with two dielectrics as two capacitors in series?
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
485
Capacitors: find the dielectric constant
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
1K
Find the charge on the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor w/ dielectric
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
1K
Electric Potential at Center of Sphere
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
8
Views
9K
Changes in capacitor after dielectric inserted
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
17
Views
2K
Potential in a sphere in a dielectric
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
7
Views
5K
Electric field of two conducting concentric spheres
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
18
Views
3K
Derivation of capacitance for two shells
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
1K
Solving Capacitance Problem: Identical Answers Explained
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
1K
Which Equations Apply When a Dielectric is Inserted into a Live Capacitor?
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
7
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top