Question

What is the electric field in a dielectric?

Answer 1

1. A dielectric is an insulator that gets polarized when an electric field is applied through it. Polarization refers to the separation of the positive and negative charges due to the application of an electric field.
2. Due to the polarization of a dielectric, one side becomes positively charged and the opposite side becomes negatively charged depending on the direction of the electric field.
3. This separation of charge causes a smaller electric field within the dielectric in the opposite direction of the applied electric field. The expression for the electric field within the dielectric field will be $E=\frac{E_0}{k}$, where, $E_0$ is the applied electric field and $k$ is the dielectric constant.

Hence, the electric field within a dielectric is less than the original applied electric field and is given by the expression $E=\frac{E_0}{k}$.