DIELECTRIC CONSTANT OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS

Alberto Damian – Quiroz Ricapa

Faculty of Sciences, National University of Engineering, Lima, Peru
July 7, 2019

Abstract
In this report "Capacitance and dielectrics" you can find different
answers to some problems that are constantly presented, and with
which we are familiar. Through this experience, we will be able to
understand, understand and analyze the theory taught in the classes,
and in this way, relate it to the practices carried out in the laboratory.
On the other hand, thanks to this practice, we have carried out the
proposed objectives, such as establishing the relationship between
load, voltage and capacitance for a parallel plate capacitor.

KEYWORDS: permittivity, capacitors in the vaccum, dielectric

constant, dielectric polarization, electric constant.

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 I. INTRODUCTION

Permittivity: It is a physical constant that

describes how an electric field affects and
is affected by a medium.
The permittivity is determined by the
tendency of a material to be polarized
before the application of an electric field E
and thus partially annuls the internal field
of the material. Said constant in a vacuum Figure 2. Field in a capacitor.
is 𝜀0 = 8,854 . 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄(𝑁. 𝑚 2 ).
Capacitors: Any two conductors
separated by an insulator form a A capacitor is a device for storing electric
capacitor. potential energy, electric charge and
electric field.
Capacitors in the vacuum: It occurs
when the conductors that constitute the
capacitor are separated by the vacuum.
The simplest form of a capacitor consists
of two parallel conductive plates each with
an area, separated by a distance (d),
Figure 1. Electric field of two insulated
which is small in comparison to its
conductors. dimensions. The field E between the
plates of this type is practically uniform
and the charges of the plates are
In most practical applications each distributed uniformly on their opposite
conductor initially zero net charge, and the surfaces, this arrangement is called the
electrons are transferred from one capacitor of parallel plates.
conductor to the other, this action is called
charging the capacitor. Then the two
drivers have charge of equal magnitude
and different sign.
A way to charge a capacitor, it is only
necessary to connect it directly to a power
source, since the charge will be almost
immediate, a resistance is used to reduce
this charging time. Further. A multimeter is
used to measure the voltage of the
capacitor before, during and after the
discharge. Figure 3. Side view of electric field E.

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The magnitude of the electric field E
corresponding to this configuration is
𝐸 = 𝜎⁄𝜀0
Figure 4. Infinite charge plane.
Where:
σ: Surface charge density.
ε0: Permitivity of the medium in a vacuum.
The electric field is uniform and the
distance between the plates is d,
therefore, the potential difference between
the plates is:
𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝐸. 𝑑 = 𝑄. 𝑑⁄𝜀0 . 𝐴 … (1)
Then the capacitance (C) of a capacitor in
the vacuum of parallel plates is:
𝐶 = 𝑄⁄𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝜀0 𝐴⁄𝑑 … (2)
The capacitance only depends on the
geometry of the capacitor is directly
proportional to the area (A) of each plate
and inversely proportional to the
separation distance (d). The variables A
and d are constant with respect to a given
capacitor, therefore, in the vacuum the
capacitance (C) is a constant independent
of the capacitor charge or the potential
difference between the plates.
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Dielectric: A dielectric is a non-
conductive material, such as rubber, glass
or enclosed paper, when a dielectric
material is imported between the plates of
a capacitor the capacitance increases if
the dielectric completely fills the space
between the plates the capacitance
increases by a factor dimensionless K,
known as dielectric constant, the dielectric
constant is a property of the material and
varies from one material to another.
Figure 5. Capacitor with dielectric.
A dielectric offers the following
advantages:
1. The capacitance of specific
dimensions is greater when there
is a dielectric material between the
plates than when there is a
vacuum.
2. The use of a dielectric increases
the maximum potential difference
between capacitor plates, any
insulating material when subjected
to a sufficiently large dielectric
field. Also its use allows
maintaining a larger potential
difference and thus store
quantities of charge and energy.
3. Increase the dielectric capacitance
of the capacitor by K times.
Note: “All dielectric materials are
insulators, but not all insulating materials
are dielectrics”
Dielectric constant: Also called relative
permittivity of a continuous medium that
refers to a macroscopic property of a
dielectric medium relating it to the
dielectric permittivity of the medium. The
dielectric constant can be calculated as:
𝐾 = 𝐶 ⁄𝐶0 = 𝑉0 ⁄𝑉 = 𝐸𝟎⁄𝑬 = 𝜀⁄𝜺𝟎 … (3)
Figure 6. Dielectric constant of some
materials.
Now for a capacitor of parallel plates in the
presence of a dielectric it has to be:
𝐶 = 𝐾. 𝐶0 = 𝐾. 𝜀0 . 𝐴⁄𝑑 … (4)
Now of 𝐶 = 𝑄⁄𝑉𝑎𝑏 replacing in (4)
𝐴
𝑄 = 𝐾. 𝜀0 . 𝑑 . 𝑉𝑎𝑏 … (5)
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II. EXPERIMENTAL
PROCEDURE
1. First, perform the cleaning of the
materials to be used as the flat capacitor.
2. We proceeded to make the circuit
taking into account the image of the
laboratory guide, we connect the power
source to the capacitor and the universal
measuring amplifier, finally, the digital
multimeter according to figure 8.
3. The first part of the experiment tries to
keep the high voltage source constant
(1.5 kV) and we vary the separation
distance of the capacitor from 0.1cm to
0.5cm, once the capacitor is charged for
a certain distance it is connects the
universal amplifier to the capacitor, in
order to connect the potential difference
of the 220nF capacitor.
4. With the data obtained from different
potential and distance we can know the
load Q and graphing Q vs 1 / d.
5. This experiment is repeated several
times, varying the distance every 0.5mm.
6. The second part of the experiment
consists of maintaining a fixed distance
and varying the high voltage source. We
maintained a fixed distance of 2mm to
4kV, above this voltage, the capacitor is
not easily charged. After the capacitor
charge is disconnected from the source
to connect it to the amplifier and measure
the potential difference, we know the
charge Q, so we can graph Q vs Vc (kV).
7. Now to know the dielectric constant of
plastic, place the plastic plate inside the
plates of the condenser and keep it
firmly, then proceed to do the same with
the glass, doing the same steps as when
working with dielectric.
 IV. EXPERIENCE

1. Maintain the source voltage at

1.5kV to vary the distance
between the edge of the 220nF
capacitor.
d(cm) VC(V)
0.10 3.17
Figure 7. Wiring diagram of the experiment. 0.15 2.22
0.20 1.63
III. MATERIALS 0.25 1.39
0.30 0.15
0.35 1.04
 Flat capacitor 0.40 0.85
 High voltage source (0 to 10 kV) 0.50 0.69
 Voltmeter (10 to 300 VAC)
 220nF capacitor Table 1. Voltage measurement for different
 Plastic plate (283x283mm) distances.
 Universal measuring amplifier.
2. We kept constant the distance d =
20mm, to then vary the voltage of
the source.
VF(kV) VC(V)
0.5 0.49
1.0 1.10
1.5 1.64
2.0 2.24
2.5 2.77
3.0 3.23
3.5 3.74
Figure 8. Equipment to be used in the
4.0 3.98
laboratory. 4.5 4.64
5.0 4.98

Table 2. Capacitor voltage measurements for

a fixed distance.

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 3. We place the plastic between the V. RESULTS
plates of the condenser, the
separation distance is 1cm, then
we vary the voltage of the source 1. Calculated 𝜀0 :
by measuring the capacitor d(cm) Vm(V) 1/d(cm-1) QTOTAL(nAs)
voltage of 220nF. 0.10 3.17 10.00 697.4
0.15 2.22 6.67 488.4
0.20 1.63 5.00 358.6
VF(kV) VDIELECTRIC(V) VVACUUM(V) 0.25 1.39 4.00 305.8
0.5 0.61 0.20 0.30 1.15 3.33 253.0
1.0 1.15 0.38 0.35 1.04 2.86 228.8
1.5 1.50 0.52 0.40 0.85 2.50 187.0
2.0 2.05 0.69 0.50 0.69 2.00 151.8
2.5 2.48 0.85
3.0 2.98 1.00
3.5 3.50 1.12 Table 5. Voltage measurement for different
4.0 3.90 1.29 distances.

Table 3. Measures of the voltage with and 800

without dielectric for the plastic. Q = 67.878(1/d) + 25.346
600
Q(nAs)

400
4. Place the glass between the plates 200
of the condenser, the separation
distance is 1.7 mm, then proceed 0
to vary the voltage of the source by 0 2 4 6 8 10
1/d(cm-1)
measuring the voltage in the
220nF capacitor.
Grafica 1. Linear dependence between Q vs
VF(kV) VDIELECTRIC(V) VVACUUM(V) 1/d
0.5 0.60 0.61
1.0 4.81 0.97
1.5 6.71 1.44
2.0 10.56 2.13
2.5 9.90 2.33
3.0 10.57 2.24
3.5 10.57 2.96
4.0 10.57 3.24

Table 4. Voltage measurements with and

without dielectric for glass.

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 2. Another way to calculated 𝜀0 : 3. Calculated 𝜀𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑜

VF(kV) Vm(V) QTOTAL(nC) VF (V) VPLASTICO VVACIO QPLASTICO QVACIO

0.5 0.49 107.8 (V) (V) (nC) (nC)
1.0 1.10 242.0 0.5 0.61 0.20 135.60 45.200
1.5 1.64 360.8 1.0 1.15 0.38 259.90 85.880
2.0 2.24 492.8 1.5 1.50 0.52 339.00 117.52
2.5 2.77 609.4 2.0 2.05 0.69 463.30 115.94
3.0 3.23 710.6 2.5 2.48 0.85 560.48 192.10
3.5 3.74 822.8 3.0 2.98 1.00 673.48 226.00
4.0 3.98 875.6 3.5 3.50 1.12 791.00 253.12
4.5 4.64 1020.8 4.0 3.90 1.29 881.40 291.54
5.0 4.98 1095.6

Table 7. Data for plastic

Table 6. Data obtained for a constant d and a
𝑉𝐹 variable.

1000
1200 QPLASTICO = 213.73VF + 32.124
800
1000 QTOTAL = 218.27VF + 33.587
800 600
Q(nC)
Q TOTAL(nC)

600
400 400
QVACIO = 70.528VF + 7.2243
200
200
0
0 2 4 6 0
V F(kV) 0 1 2 3 4
V F (kV)

Graphic 2 Linear dependence between QTOTAL

Graphic 3. Linear dependence between Q y
vs VF.
VF.

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 4. Calculated 𝜀𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑜 For Graphic 1, the value of the dielectric
constant was obtained, using Equation 11,
VF(V) VVIDRIO (V) VVACIO QVIDRIO QVACIO 𝜀0 = 8,52. 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚 2 with an
(V) (nC) (nC) experimental error of%𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 3,72%,
0.5 0.60 0.61 132.0 134.2 this due to what was mentioned in the
1.0 4.81 0.97 1058.2 213.4 previous paragraph.
1.5 7.71 1.44 1696.2 316.8
2.0 10.56 2.13 2323.2 468.6 In Graphic 2 a linear trend between the
2.5 10.56 2.33 2323.2 512.6 load (Q) versus the variable voltage (Vf) is
3.0 10.56 2.24 2323.2 492.8 corroborated, since the distance was kept
3.5 10.56 2.96 2323.2 651.2 constant, short distance between the
4.0 10.56 3.24 2323.2 712.8 plates, and that the instruments were in a
suitable state. This indicates that the
function for the charge of the capacitor of
Table 8. Data obtained for glass. parallel plates is fulfilled (Equation 5).
For Graphic 2, the value of the dielectric
2500 constant was obtained, using Equation 11,
𝜀0 = 8,22. 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚 2 and with an
2000 experimental error of%𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 7,11%,
Q(nC)

1500 due to what was mentioned in the previous

paragraph.
1000
QVACIO = 162.17VF + 72.914 For the calculation of the dielectric
500
constant of plastic it was calculated by two
0 methods:
0 1 2 3 4
V F(kV) Equation 1 was used and obtained
𝜀𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚 = 2,99. 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚 2

Graphic 4. Graph from table 8. It was plotted graphically and 𝜀𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚 =

VI. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
Graphic 1 shows a linear trend between
the load (Q) versus the inverse of the
distance (1 / d), since the distance
between the plates was short despite the
fact that the distance was variable, it is
also due to the fact that the medium there
were no external agents that (other
burdens) that affected the experience.
3,07 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚 2
By both methods give values close to the
real 𝜀0 = 3,0. 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚 2, (this is
because the dielectric material (glass )
was in optimal conditions, the work area
moved away from any type of loads that
would affect the experience and that the
glass copo all the space of the circular
plates.
For the calculation of the dielectric
constant of the glass it was calculated by
means of two methods.

This means that the function for the

charge of the capacitor of parallel plates is
fulfilled (Equation 5), therefore adequate
data was obtained for this experience.

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Equation 1 was used and obtained VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
𝜀𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚 = 4,04. 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚 2with an
experimental error of%𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 1.4%.
[1] M. Alonso and Edward. J. Finn,”
It was calculated graphically and obtained Fundamental University Physics. - Vol.
𝜀𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚 = 5,2. 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚 2 where the 2”, Addison-Wesley. México, 1986.
slope of Graph 4 was used to find this Chapter 22.
value. This value is comprised
[2] Sears y Zemansky,” Física
between: 5 ≤ 𝜀𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑜 ≤10. In the case of
Universitaria con Física moderna. – Vol.
dielectric glass, it remained constant in
2”, Pearson. México, 2004.Chapter 24.
Graph 4 because the distance between
the plates was short for the same
thickness of the glass and that voltage
increased by 1kilovolts, this caused the
total load to be constant due to the
characteristics of the material and the
high-intensity voltage

VII. CONCLUSION

It was possible to determine the dielectric

constants in the vacuum by two methods,
the first varying the distance d and
maintaining the voltage of the source
constant and the other maintaining
constant the distance d and varying the
voltage of the source, where an average
of both cases was obtained a value of:
𝜀0 = 8,37. 10−12 𝐶2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚2

It was possible to determine the

dielectric constant for the plastic,
where a value of:
𝜀 = 3,03. 10−12 𝐶 2 ⁄𝑁. 𝑚 2

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