EXPERIMENT 7 DIELECTRIC CONSTANT Object: Measurement of dielectric constant K of a substance by Resonance method. Apparatus required: Dielect constant apparatus, variable gang capacitor, parallel plate capacitor (Test Capacitor), dielectric material, connecting leads. Formula used: Dielectric constant, K is measured as K= (CL-C2)(C1-€3) Where - Cl is capacity of standard variable capacitor at resonance (maximum deflection) C2 is capacity of standard variable capacitor at resonance (maximum deflection) including test capacitor with presence of dielectric in C3 is capacity of standard variable capacitor at resonance (maximum deflection) including test capacitor in absence of dietectrie in it Theory: A diclectri be pelarized by an applied electric field. When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, material (dielectric for short) is an electrical insulator that can electric charges do not flow through the material as they do in a conductor, but only slightly shift from their average equilibrium positions causing dielectric polarization. Because of dielectric polarization, positive charges are displaced toward the field and negative charges shift in the opposite direction. This creates an internal electric field that reduces the overall field within the dielectric itself. If a dielectric is composed of weakly bonded molecules, those molecules not only become polarized, but also reorient so that their symmetry axes align to the field, While the term insulator implies low electrical conduction, dielectric typically means imoterials with a high polarizability. The latter is expressed by a number called the relative permittivity (also knovin in older texts as dielectric constant). The term insulator is generally used to indicate electrical obstruction while the term dielectric is used to indicate the energy storing capacity of the material (by means of polarization). A common example of a dielectric is the electrically ins:liting materiai between the metallic plates of a capacitor. The polarization of the dieiectrie by the applied electric field increases the cupacitor’s surface. charg for tine given elecbic field strength. A perfect dielectric is a mater ial with: zew electrical eonductivity.Figure 2: Basic Configuration of a capacitor Procedure: Connect the variable capacitor with the terminals marked variable capacitor on the front panel of the instruntent. Switch on the instrument and wait for at least 1-2 minutes and then set the sensitivity of the meter at 85 tA (appx.)by the sensitivity control knob and also rotate the standard capacitor knob for maximum deflection, Now vary the variahle capacitor to find out the resonance point (maximum, deflection in the meter). Note the Vaiue of variable capacitot as CL, Now include the’ unknown test capacitor [with dielectric (all the three Bakelite sheets of thickness 7.5mm) in it] and repeat the experiment by varying the variable capacitor t» again obtain resonance point (maximum deflection) in the meter. Note this value of variable as C2. Now remove the dielectric material (Bakelite sheets) ftom the test capacitor and repeat the experiment by varying variate capacitor to asin obtain resonance point (maximum deflection) in the meter, Note this value of variable as @3, Repeat the experiment with different thickness materials, Calculate the value of dielectric constant K using above formula,Observations: 1 Capacity of variable capacitor at resonance alone C 2. Capacity of variable capacitor at resonance with test capacitor (with dielectric in it) C2= 3. Capacity of variable capacitor at resonance with test capacitor (without dielectric in it) C3= Table of observation: SNo. Thickness “of dielectric | Value of variable capacitor at resonance when material (Bk. Sheet) in mm ‘Alone With test With test cf) Capacitor (with capacitor (inp) dielectric in it) (without cy. dielectric in it) (in pf) ‘CR (in pf ' mm ih. BH lo 2 43mm By 3 6mm | lo a 75mm € 5 Precautions; 1. Test capacitor plates should be tight when filled with dielectvic material, 2. two are 3mm each, By using all three sheets the thickness will be 7.5 mm, Ce &: Three sheets are provided for solid dielectric, One sheet is 1.5mm thick and other fo “