Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Capacitance
Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store charge per unit voltage, defined by the formula C = εA/d, where ε is the permittivity of the dielectric material, A is the plate area, and d is the separation between the plates. When a dielectric material is introduced, the capacitance increases by a factor equal to the dielectric constant (K), allowing the capacitor to store more charge at the same voltage.
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Capacitors & Capacitance (Intro)
Electric Field
The electric field (E) between the plates of a capacitor is defined as the voltage (V) across the plates divided by the separation (d), given by E = V/d. When a dielectric is inserted, the electric field decreases because the dielectric reduces the effective voltage across the plates, which is crucial for understanding how the capacitor behaves when the dielectric is present.
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Energy Stored in a Capacitor
The energy (U) stored in a capacitor can be calculated using the formula U = 1/2 CV², where C is the capacitance and V is the voltage. When a dielectric is added, the capacitance increases, which in turn increases the energy stored in the capacitor, assuming the voltage remains constant. This relationship is essential for determining how the energy changes when the dielectric is introduced.
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Energy Stored by Capacitor
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