Question Detail

PHY 102 Coulomb's law and Electric Fields Objective Question

Question

When the surrounding medium for two point charges is not a vacuum, the force between them is affected by a material's dielectric constant K. How is the permittivity (ε) of the material related to the permittivity of free space (ε₀) and the dielectric constant K?
Options
A ε = ε₀ / K
B ε = K + ε₀
C ε = K * ε₀
Correct Answer
D ε = K - ε₀
Correct Answer

Option C is the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation

Page 2 states: 'If the material has a dielectric constant K, then ε₀ in Coulomb's Law must be replaced by Kε₀ = ε, where ε is called the permittivity of the material.' This directly implies ε = K * ε₀.

Hint

Look for the definition of permittivity of a material when a dielectric constant is involved.

Question Info