Dielectric constant

The dielectric constant is a material’s relative permittivity: the ratio of its permittivity to that of vacuum. It describes how the material responds to an electric field, with values dependent on frequency and conditions.

Electric susceptibility: A dimensionless measure of how strongly a material polarizes in response to an electric field. In a linear material, susceptibility determines relative permittivity through the relation εr = 1 + χe.
Permittivity: A measure of how a material responds to an electric field and supports electric displacement. Dielectric constant is relative permittivity, normalized by vacuum permittivity.
Capacitance: A measure of a system’s ability to store electric charge per unit voltage. A dielectric between capacitor plates increases capacitance in proportion to its relative permittivity.
Relative permeability: The ratio of a material’s magnetic permeability to the permeability of vacuum. It describes response to magnetic fields, unlike dielectric constant’s electric-field response.
Electric polarization: The electric dipole moment per unit volume of a material. Polarization is the material response that screens an applied electric field.
Vacuum permittivity: The electric permittivity of vacuum, a physical constant denoted ε₀. It is the reference value used to define relative permittivity.
Dielectric material: An electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. Dielectric constant quantifies a central electrical property of these materials.
Electrical conductivity: A measure of how readily electric charge moves through a material. Conductivity concerns mobile charge transport, not polarization alone.
Dielectric relaxation: The delayed response of polarization to a changing electric field. Relaxation makes permittivity vary with the frequency of the applied field.
Electric displacement field: A vector field that accounts for free charge and material polarization in electrostatics. The relation D = εE uses permittivity to connect field and displacement.

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