Exam-style question
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What is the role of a dielectric material in a capacitor?.
- A.To increase the potential difference across the plates.
- B.To decrease the charge stored in the capacitor.
- C.To increase the capacitance by reducing the electric field strength.
- D.To maintain a constant current flow.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- To increase the capacitance by reducing the electric field strength.
Explanation
Why this works
The role of a dielectric material in a capacitor is to increase the capacitance by reducing the electric field strength between the plates. This reduction allows the capacitor to store more charge at the same potential difference.
The consequence is that the capacitor can store more energy, making it more efficient for energy storage applications.
Common mistake
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