1. What is Relative Permittivity?

Definition: Relative permittivity (dielectric constant) measures how much a material concentrates electric flux compared to vacuum.

Purpose: It's crucial for designing capacitors, understanding material properties, and electromagnetic applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \epsilon_r \) — Relative permittivity (dimensionless)
• \( C \) — Capacitance with material (Farads, F)
• \( C_0 \) — Capacitance in vacuum (Farads, F)

Explanation: The ratio of capacitance with the material to capacitance in vacuum gives the relative permittivity.

3. Importance of Relative Permittivity

Details: For water, relative permittivity is about 80 at room temperature, which affects solubility, conductivity, and molecular interactions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both capacitance values in Farads (typically very small values like microfarads or picofarads). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the relative permittivity of pure water?
A: Approximately 80 at 20°C, but it varies with temperature and frequency.

Q2: Why measure relative permittivity for water?
A: It's important for understanding water's solvent properties, biological systems, and industrial applications.

Q3: How does temperature affect water's permittivity?
A: Permittivity decreases as temperature increases due to reduced molecular alignment.

Q4: What units are used for capacitance?
A: Farads (F), but you can enter values in microfarads (μF) or picofarads (pF) - the calculator will handle the conversion.

Q5: What's a typical experimental setup for this measurement?
A: Usually involves a parallel plate capacitor with and without the dielectric material (water).