What Determines Q(free) in Dielectrics?

[coochnpoon]

Hi.

The chapter is electric potentials.

In dielectrics, when solving for Q(bound), Q(free) is required.

What is Q(free)?

Is it Q with OR without the dielectric factored in? Or is C(knot) alone?

Joben.

 

[jtbell]

For a dielectric in a capacitor, $Q_{free}$ is the charge on the capacitor plates themselves, supplied by the circuit that the capacitor is part of.

 

[astrokreng]

Q(free) refers to the free charge in a dielectric material, meaning the charge that is not bound to the atoms or molecules of the material. This charge is not affected by the presence of the dielectric and can be calculated using the equation Q = CV, where C is the capacitance and V is the potential difference. The dielectric constant, or k, is factored into the capacitance term, so it is not necessary to consider it separately when calculating Q(free).