Experiment number: 05 Group: Electricity and Magnetism
Determination of dielectric constant of a given dielectric material
Theory: Dielectric material is an insulating material in which all the electrons are tightly bound to the
nucleiof the atom and there are no free clectrons available forthe conduction of current. When we put the
dielectric material in between two conducting plates it forms a capacitor.
The dielectric constant (e,) of a dielectric material of permittivity ([) is defined as the ratio of the
capacitance (c) of agiven capacitor completely filled with the dielectric material to the capacitance of the
same capacitor in vacuum (co). i.e..E, = Co
.The Value of Ch can be calculated as,
8.85 x 10x X(0.004) E 222
2
t 2x10 -3
X 10-13 F = 0.22 p,
where. A is the area of the conducting plate ,t is the thickness of the sample and & the permittivity of
free space.
The ratio &, also known as relative permittivityof the material, is found to be independent of the shape or
the dimensions of the capacitors and is solely acharacteristic of the particular dielectric material used.
The dielectric constant of amaterial is a macroscopic quantity that measures how effectively an electric
field is polarizing the material.
The material (BaTiO;) used in this experiment is ferroelectric in nature. This
material, being
spontaneously polarized, exhibits permanent dipole moment even in the absence of an external electric
field. However, the direction of polarization can be altered by applying an external electric field. The
ferroelectric properties of a dielectric material disappear above a critical temperature known as
ferroelectric Curie temperature where the ferroelectric material changes its property to a non-ferroelectric
material(i. e. no spontaneous polarization).
Instrumnents list:
Sample (BaTi03), Oven, Main unit with Digital capacitance meter:, digital
controller. temperature meter, oven
Procedural steps:
1. Switch on the main unit and note down the values of
capacitance and the temperature.
2. Adjust the set-temperature to its maximum position.
3. Turn on the oven. The green LED should light up.
4. Take the reading of the capacitance for different temperatures (For
125°C 140°C in 1°C step and 140'C -150'Cin 5°C step).
- 50C-12s'C in 5'C step, for
5. Draw a graph with temperature "'C) along X-axis and dielectric constant along y-axis. Find the value
(in
of Curie temperature from the graph where the
value of dielectric constant is maximum.
Tabulation:
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Table 1: Determination of Dielectric constant as afunction of temnperature.
No of obs. Temperature ('C) Capacitance c (pF) Dielectric constant (E,)
Comments:
I) The spring loaded probe should be allowed to rest on the sample very gently, otherwiseit may damage
the conducting surface of the sample or even may break it.
2)The reading near Curie temperature should be taken at closer intervals, say I"C.
Viva
Questionare:
1. What is adielectric material?
A dielectric is an insulating material in which all the clectrons are tightly bound to the nuclei of
the atom and there is no free electrons available for conduction.
What happens when we send an electric field across adielectric material?
Polarization of the atoms of the dielectric material takes place.
3. What is polarization in regard to electric field theory?
Polarisation is defined as the process of creating or inducing dipoles in adielectric material by an
external electric field. In an atom, electrons are orbiting aroundthe positively charged nucleus.
Without the electric field the centroids of negative charges and positive charges coincide. With
the electric field, the positive charges move along the field while the negative charges move
against the field producing an electric dipole. This is how we can create an capacitor and can
store electrical energy.
4 What are the different types of dielectrics?
Dielectric material can be of two types, polar and non-polar. A dielectric material in which no
permanent dipole exist is known as non-polar dielectrics. Examples are O;, H, etc.
For polar dielectrics, an permanent dipole do exist even in the absence of an external electric
field. Examples are, H,0, NaCl ete.
5. What is the dielectric sample being used over here?
BaTiO,.
6. Is it a polar or non-polar material?
It is a polar molecule.
7. What is dielectric constant?
The dielectric constant of a dielectric material can be defined as the ratio of the capacitance using
the material as dielectric in a capacitor to the capacitance using the vacuum as the dielectric.
8=
Co
8. What is the unit of the dielectric constant?
It has no unit since this is the ratio of two capacitances.
9. What is the value of co ?
Co = 0. t
where Eg is the permittivity of the medium, Ais the area of the plate and t is the
thickness of the sample. For the sample being used the value of co is 0.22pF.
10. What is Curie temperature?
This is the temperature at which the polarization of the dielectric (ferroelectric) material and
hence the capacitance is maximum. Beyond this temperature the ferroelectric material looses its
property and the electric dipoles are scattered in all direction.
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