Parallel Plate Example

• HOW ABOUT GAUSS' LAW?

  • How can field decrease if charge remains the same??
  • Answer: the dielectric becomes polarized in the presence of the field due to Q.
    • The molecules partially align with the field so that their negative charge tends toward the positive plate.
    • The field due to this rearrangement inside the dielectric (a la dipole) opposes the original field and is therefore responsible for the reduction in the effective field.

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