Question

Explain the following statement giving reason:

When a dielectric is placed in an external electric field, the electric field inside the dielectric is less than that outside it.

Answer 1

A dielectric experiences polarization when exposed to an external field (E₀). An internal “induced” electric field (E_i) is produced in the opposite direction by induced charges on the dielectric’s surfaces. E = E₀ − E_i, which is less than E₀, is the net field within.