Question

Which description defines a dielectric?

Options

• A material that produces an external electric field without being placed in one

• A non-conducting (insulating) material in which charges are bound to their atoms or molecules and cannot move freely

• A conducting material in which charges move freely between atoms

• A material that allows charges to move freely but prevents molecules from polarising

Answer 1

A dielectric is an insulating material whose charges are bound to atoms or molecules rather than free to move. In an external electric field, its molecules can become polarised.