Dielectric Constant
The ratio of the permittivity of a medium to that of a vacuum.
It is simply the ability of a substance to attenuate the transmission of an electrostatic force from one charged body to another. The lower the value, the greater the attenuation. The standard measurement apparatus utilizes a vacuum whose dielectric constant is 1. In reference to this, various materials are interposed between the charged terminal (at 20°C).
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| Acetic Acid | 6.2 | Clip | |
| Air | 1.00058 | Clip | |
| Ammonia | 15.5 | Clip | |
| Bakelite | 3.6 | Clip | |
| Benzene | 2.3 | Clip | |
| Ethanol | 25 | Clip | |
| Glass | 5 | Clip | |
| Glycerol | 56 | Clip | |
| Marble | 8 | Clip | |
| Mica | 6 | Clip | |
| Nylon | 5 | Clip | |
| Olive Oil | 3 | Clip | |
| Paper | 2.3 | Clip | |
| Paraffin Oil | 2.2 | Clip | |
| Paraffin Wax | 2.2 | Clip | |
| Petroleum | 2.2 | Clip | |
| Phenolic Resin | 8 | Clip | |
| Polystyrene | 3 | Clip | |
| Porcelain | 4.4 | Clip | |
| Quartz | 4.5 | Clip | |
| Shellac | 3.5 | Clip | |
| Slate | 4 | Clip | |
| Sulphur | 3.5 | Clip | |
| Turpentine | 2.2 | Clip | |
| Water | 80 | Clip |
paste all data into clipboardThe exceptionally high value for water accounts for its unique behaviour as a solvent and in electrolytic solutions. Dielectric constant values decrease as the temperature rises.
See also: Dielectric.
Subjects: Physics